Alivia Mazura

Steve Virgen

Timing has been the basis of success for Corona del Mar High senior

Alivia Mazura. Her blossoming as a true scorer proved to be

opportunistic for the Sea Kings’ girls soccer team this season.

Last year, timing seemed to Mazura’s enemy because she endured

nagging injuries. But this season, Mazura stayed away from the injury

bug for the most part. She led the Sea Kings with 12 goals and 11

assists, as she took advantage of her health, while preserving

strength from last year’s experience.

“In the end, (the injuries) just make you stronger,” Mazura said.

“When you first come back from an injury, it so frustrating, removing

the rust. But, you do come back stronger. I came back stronger. The

last two years, I’ve been in a cast three times for an ankle or

tibia. But, that’s stayed away this season.”

Mazura’s timing allowed her to concentrate on becoming a scorer

for the Sea Kings, who finished their season Thursday in the CIF

Southern Section Division II quarterfinals.

Mazura’s passion for scoring stemmed from two obligations. She was

looked to by her teammates because of her talents and because her

friend and teammate, Lauren Shepherdson, went down with a

season-ending injury.

The Sea Kings needed another scorer to step up. And in came

Mazura. She thrived in the role and in the process Mazura’s scoring

duties also helped her in her preparation for NCAA Division I

competition next season.

Next year, Mazura will most likely compete for a starting forward

position at UC Berkeley. She refined her game on the high school

level this season, leading the Sea Kings in goals and assists.

“She creates most of our scoring opportunities,” CdM first-year

coach Bryan Middleton said. “If the ball is set to her feet, she can

usually beat one or two players. She has the option of shooting on

goal or she can create a scoring chance.”

Mazura, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, intensified her

scoring prowess for the playoffs. She scored a goal to help lead the

Sea Kings to a 2-1 victory over Murrietta Valley, last week, to open

the CIF Division II Playoffs.

“When I get the ball, I just go and attack,” said Mazura, who has

been playing for seven years, including with the Newport Slammers

Futbol Club, of which her father, Jerry, manages. “I’ve been more of

a midfield player. My mind is more on offense, now. I will be

competing for forward next year.

People say I need to start going to the net. I’ve gotten good

results, so far.”

Mazura also scored the first goal for the Sea Kings in their 3-0

win over Canyon (Anaheim) Tuesday. For Mazura, she believes her

scoring has come about because of her teammates.

“It’s obviously a team effort, and it starts from the back,”

Mazura said.

“We can work the ball inside and create something in the middle.

That’s how we can score sometimes.”

That’s how Mazura scored her sensational goal Tuesday. She settled

a pass from freshman Kelly Morgan and fired a shot into the middle,

top portion of the net.

Mazura said she and her teammates used heart and desire to defeat

the Comanches, in a physical game. In the quarterfinal game Thursday,

the action, once again, became physical.

Mazura was set to team up for a scoring sequence with senior

Elisha Morgan, but a Canyon (Canyon Canyon Country) stepped in front

of her. Mazura said she told the player to get out of the way. The

player pushed Mazura to the ground and kicked her head. Mazura fought

back.

“I was just defending myself,” the CdM senior said.

Mazura said she was left with a swollen lip and a minor

concussion.

“Everything is fine, though,” Mazura said Friday. “I’m feeling

fine.”

Mazura said she was so driven to get back in the game Thursday,

she put aside her pains. She said she was surprised she was not

charged with a red card.

“To be honest, I don’t really remember much,” Mazura said. “I just

remember certain spurts of the game.”

Most of Mazura’s memories come from the time spent with her

teammates.

That’s why Thursday’s loss was so disappointing.

Mazura started playing for CdM as a freshman, along with Elisha

Morgan, Jenny Long, Paige Janes and Shepherdson. They were called the

Fab Five. On Thursday, Janes and Shepherdson had to watch from the

sidelines, while Mazura endured her pain from being kicked in the

head.

However, Mazura knows that did not take away from the success the

quintet brought to CdM.

“We had a lot of fun this year,” Mazura said. “We went through a

lot. We got new players and a new coach. We had to have a few team

meetings. After that, it’s been so much fun.”