ONTARIO — A 2-0 lead looks great on the scoreboard, but many soccer coaches also call it the most dangerous scoreline. That adage was proven true Friday evening. Animo Leadership players celebrate with the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship trophy into the air after defeatin g Ontario Christian 4-2 in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership forward Jeremiah Medrano (13), left, rips off his shirt after scoring past Ontario Christian defenders Jacob de Corte (8) and Landon Fritz (9) in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian defender Jacob de Corte (8) takes the header over Animo Leadership defender Darian Cruz (19) and Ontario Christian defender Jacob Rivera (10) in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership defender Christopher Zuleta (33) buts heads with Ontario Christian defender Daniel Moreno (11) after the header in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership forward Christopher Sanchez (9) and Animo Leadership forward Jeremiah Medrano (13) hug with tears of joy after defeating Ontario Christian 4-2 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership defender Sebastian Medrano (14) tackles Ontario Christian defender Jacob de Corte (8) in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian defender Trajen Fajardo (17) kicks the ball past Animo Leadership defender Ryan Garcia Cervantes (11) in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership forward Jeremiah Medrano (13) scores pass Ontario Christian goalkeeper Andrew Belden (30) in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian goalkeeper Andrew Belden (30) makes a diving save of a Animo Leadership shot on goal in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership midfielder Elias Medrano (10) splits Ontario Christian defenders as he sores in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership forward Christopher Sanchez (9) puts the header past Ontario Christian defenders and Ontario Christian goalkeeper Andrew Belden (30) for a goal in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership forward Christopher Sanchez (9) celebrates his goal against Ontario Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership goalkeeper Fernando Hernandez (1) can only watch as Ontario Christian defender Dalton Stott (16) kicks the ball past him for a goal in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership forward Jeremiah Medrano (13) prays before the start of the second half on the game against Ontario Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian midfielder Chris Abernathy (14) prays as the game ends and Animo Leadership celebrates their 4-2 victory in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian defender Dalton Stott (16) celebrates his goal as Animo Leadership goalkeeper Fernando Hernandez (1) crashes into the net in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian fans cheer for their team during the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership forward Jeremiah Medrano (13) rips off his jersey after scoring past Ontario Christian defender Jacob de Corte (8) in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian defender Jacob de Corte (8) celebrates his goal with Ontario Christian defender Jacob Rivera (10) against Animo Leadership in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership players, left and Ontario Christian players during player introductions before the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Ontario Christian midfielder Bryant Abernathy (6) and Ontario Christian midfielder Chris Abernathy (14) comfort each other after the 4-2 loss to Animo Leadership in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Animo Leadership Head Coach Sergio Medrano gives a thumbs up as forward Jeremiah Medrano (13) raises the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship trophy into the air after defeating Ontario Christian 4-2 in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 22Animo Leadership players celebrate with the CIF Southern Section Division 6 boys soccer championship trophy into the air after defeating Ontario Christian 4-2 in Ontario on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Ontario Christian dominated the opening half and held that two-goal advantage at intermission of the CIF Southern Division 6 championship match. However, Animo Leadership turned the tables on the Knights in a matter of minutes and prevailed 4-2. It marks the fifth section championship for Animo’s boys soccer program and first since winning the Division 3 title in 2024. “We struggled to create any kind of offense in the first half, so we had to make adjustments at halftime,” Aztec Eagles coach Sergio Medrano said. “We hadn’t come back from a 2-0 deficit before tonight, but these players found a way to get it done.” The match flipped in favor of Animo Leadership (19-8-5) during a six-minute stretch of the second half. Elias Medrano ripped a shot with the outside of his boot from the top of the box in the 51st minute. The shot appeared to take a slight deflection off the foot of an Ontario Christian defender, giving Knights goalkeeper Andrew Belden little chance to make the save. The Aztec Eagles leveled the match 3 minutes later, as Christopher Sanchez headed home a low, driving corner kick from Ethan Mendoza. And then 2 1/2 minutes later, a miscue from Ontario Christian’s backline allowed Jeremiah Medrano to take control of the ball inside the box and fire a shot into the net. “I’ve never experienced something like that,” Animo defender and captain Ryan Garcia said. “Those 6 minutes were the best 6 minutes of our lives and something we’ll always remember. … Hearing our fans cheering us on was a feeling like no other.” Added Sergio Medrano: “We wanted to control the midfield in the second half and try to put Ontario Christian on their heels.” The emotions were much different for Ontario Christian and its fans, as exuberance quickly was replaced by bewilderment. “It’s tough because in soccer there are no timeouts,” Knights coach Anthony Quintanilla said. “You can’t stop the action and bring the team together in the huddle. You yell out instructions and keep on supporting them, but it can be a helpless feeling at times.” Ontario Christian (22-5-1) nearly stunned the Aztec Eagles in the opening minute. Dominik Martinez intercepted a ball and dribbled into the box down to the end line. He passed the ball back, but Daniel Moreno pulled the shot just wide of the net. The Knights continued to control the action and dominate possession throughout the first half, and the breakthrough goal came from a set piece in the 13th minute. Jacob Rivera sent a free kick into the box, and center defender Jacob De Corte jumped and deftly flicked the ball with his foot over Animo goalie Fernando Hernandez, sending the home crowd into frenzy. De Corte also played a role in Ontario Christian’s second goal, which came in the 25th minute. De Corte’s long throw deep into the penalty area created some havoc for Animo’s defense, and Dalton Stott tucked the ball away for the 2-0 lead. “We kind have gone through this program together,” Quintanilla said of his senior co-captain. “Jacob came in my second season here and has been an instrumental part of program. He’s been a great leader and knows how to get his teammates fired up.” The Knights could not recreate the offensive magic in the second half, not even when De Corte moved up to the striker position. Elias Medrano sealed the victory in the 71st minute, when he intercepted a pass and netted his second goal of the match. Animo will add a sixth star to its crest, representing the five section championships and a CIF State regional title won in 2013. “We kind of felt defeated at the start of halftime,” Medrano said. “We pray every day and ask God to give us strength, and we did that again tonight. We came back out on the field with confidence and ready to play the way we know we can.” Quintanilla is excited for the program’s future despite losing De Corte and five other seniors to graduation. “This is a great experience and learning opportunity our younger guys,” Quintanilla said. “We’ll bounce back like we always do.” Related Articles Murrieta Valley girls basketball team halted by St. Margaret’s in Division 3 title game Eight Inland wrestlers advance to semifinals at CIF State Championships National elites battle for CIF-SS Open Division girls basketball title Seven Inland boys wrestlers advance to the quarterfinals at CIF State Championships 14 Inland girls wrestlers have reached the quarterfinals at CIF State Championships ...read more read less