ORANGE — Grateful for the season and the championship experience, the Fontana boys soccer team did not offer excuses. Outplayed in a mistake-filled 4-1 loss to Santa Monica in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final Saturday at El Modena High, the Steelers chose honesty over spin. “It was main ly mistakes,” Fontana coach Rigo Isarraras said. “I think we made four really bad mistakes, and it’s really hard to win a final like that.” Sophomore Luis Hernandez scored early in the second half but it wasn’t enough as Fontana (22-6-0 overall) conceded twice from set pieces before Santa Monica’s Nathan Schlepp dribbled through the Steelers’ defense a final time. “The whole year, the defense has been pretty good, but I mean, hey, (Santa Monica) played better than us,” Isarraras said. In a season that started with a 1-0 loss to Rancho Cucamonga and included three losses to Rialto, reaching a fourth section final was its own reward for Fontana “There’s no failure here,” Isarraras said. “Technically, getting to the Division 1 final is a good thing and an accomplishment.” The Steelers nearly grabbed a lead on the first corner kick in the eighth minute, but Omar Amaro’s header went inches wide of the post. Amaro was cautioned 12 minutes later for getting stuck in a slow rolling ball back to Santa Monica goalkeeper Zaydan Siddiqui. Fontana’s Hugo Castillo hit the crossbar in the 27th minute before Santa Monica got the ball going the other way. A long throw-in landed inside the goal area, and the Vikings’ William Komlos poked it over the goal line for a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute. Santa Monica (21-3-3) added a second goal in the final minute before halftime on Joaquin Castro’s screamer from outside the 18-yard box. “These guys love scoring goals,” Santa Monica coach Chris Sandoval said. “When they’re on it, these guys can score as many goals as they want.” Fontana kicked off to begin the second half and went direct, with Hernandez streaking down the left side before receiving the ball, taking a touch and blasting a left-footed shot into the upper left corner. “I received the ball and turned and it looked like (Siddiqui) was out of position,” Hernandez said. “I took a shot and it went in.” Added Isarraras: “We were back on track with it at 2-1 but unfortunately that meant taking so many chances and it cost us a lot.” The Steelers produced five shots on goal in the second half but Santa Monica’s Adrian Gonzalez got behind the defense and headed in a lofted free kick in the 57th minute and Schlepp beat two defenders to score 10 minutes later. Both teams advance to the CIF Southern California regional playoffs. Pairings will be released on Monday. Related Articles Ramona boys basketball team can’t keep pace with Laguna Hills in Division 6 title game Ontario Christian girls basketball stumbles against Sierra Canyon in Open Division title game Murrieta Mesa boys basketball team takes down Aliso Niguel in Division 3 final Roosevelt girls soccer team holds off Newport Harbor to win Division 1 title Rialto routs Salesian for CIF-SS Division 7 boys basketball title ...read more read less