HEAD BATTLE—Newbury Park High School senior Phillip Muscarella, left, and Esperanza High School’s Eddie Arellano fight to head the ball in the second half during the Panthers 1-0 loss in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs to Esperanza on Tuesday in Newbury Park. JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers As Phillip Muscarella pulled off his Newbury Park jersey, he realized it was for the last time.

The Santa Clara Universitybound Muscarella had hoped for a longer playoff run in his final season of soccer at Newbury Park High, but the season came to an end for Muscarella and his teammates Tuesday afternoon with the Panthers’ 1-0 loss to visiting Esperanza.

“I’m done. That’s it. It’s over,” Muscarella said. “It’s done. I don’t know what else to say. It’s been fun. It’s a long journey, but it’s come to an end.”

The loss, coming in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, ends Newbury Park’s season at 8-6-9.

Esperanza went on the offensive from the opening kickoff and pressured Newbury Park’s defense. Eddie Arellano, Jeremy Stith and Cory Wolfrom powered the potent Esperanza attack that challenged Newbury Park goalie Jack Duncan.

Just four minutes in, Esperanza placed a corner kick in front of Newbury Park’s goal, where the Aztec’s Arellano shot at Duncan, who dived on the ball.

Three minutes later, Daniel Borst pounded a free kick from the 28-yard line off a defender and into Duncan’s hands.

Esperanza continued to attack, with Newbury Park making defensive stops before the Aztecs broke through in the 40th minute.

Michael Doyen had possession in front of Newbury Park’s goal when he tipped it back to Arellano, who blasted a shot into the left side of the Panthers’ goal for a 1-0 Esperanza lead.

“I felt we gave them too much room in the middle of the field, and they seemed to dominate that portion of the game,” said Newbury Park coach Guy Sanford. “It’s tough. You get into the playoffs and you don’t know what to expect.”

Sanford implored his team to play better with a passionate halftime pep talk.

Newbury Park came out the aggressor in the second half and had multiple shots on goal, but they ended up either going wide or into the goalkeeper’s hands.

Muscarella had a one-on-one opportunity near the Esperanza goal, where he spun left and fired on the goal, but it went straight to the keeper.

“I think our guys in the second half really turned it on and did what they had to do to get back in the game,” Sanford said. “We had our opportunities at times, but unfortunately it went wide or whatever.

“This time of year it’s tough. You’re playing the best of the best. To get as far as we did considering we only took third in Marmonte League, I’m proud of these kids.”

Muscarella said Esperanza was a tough team to overcome.

“They had a very good midfield, very good forwards,” he said. “Their backline was a little (weak). That’s what we tried to exploit the most. We couldn’t take advantage.

“We tried to play as physical as we could. They got one in the first half, and we couldn’t get one in the net.”

Now that his high school athletic endeavers are ending, Muscarella can begin looking forward to starting his collegiate career.

“There’s a lot of stuff to look forward to,” he said. “I was just trying to make my high school (career) last as long as possible, but it did come to an end, so I’m looking forward to what’s ahead of me. It’s going to be some more good times.”