Bronze sets fine for CdM

Steve Virgen

For a coach whose girls soccer team had just lost, 2-0, Corona del

Mar High head man Bryan Middleton seemed rather content.

Middleton carried a sense of satisfaction even though his team

missed out on a chance to finish second in the Pacific Coast League,

losing to Northwood at Irvine’s Meadowood Park on Tuesday. Corona del

Mar (9-8-2, 6-3-1 in league) could have been in second place if it

had tied or won, but instead finished third. Tesoro (9-0-1 in league)

won the PCL.

Middleton was disappointed about the game’s outcome, but remained

proud of his Sea Kings who accomplished the goal of gaining a berth

in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs despite possessing

labels of “young team” and “rebuilding” when the season began.

“I’m definitely pleased with this being a rebuilding year and us

making it to the CIF playoffs,” Middleton said.

While Middleton was happy with his team’s achievement he said his

players lacked the energy and intensity they had last week and in

their 3-1 win over the Timberwolves Jan. 22 at Corona del Mar, where

the Sea Kings are apparently a different team.

“When we play at home we’re on fire,” said Middleton, whose team

was perfect (5-0) in its home league games. “We play so well when we

we’re at home.”

But the Sea Kings were out of sync and the Timberwolves (15-8-1,

7-3) seemed as if they were hungry to exact revenge. Corona del Mar

earned its home victory over Northwood by taking advantage of its

situation in the first half when the Sea Kings played with the wind.

That paid off for a 2-0 lead.

There wasn’t much wind Tuesday but enough to make a difference on

the Timberwolves’ uneven field. In the first half Northwood went with

the wind, to the west, the same way that appeared to go downhill. The

game was played on the outfield of a baseball diamond at the park

that is a block away from Northwood.

The Timberwolves, who recorded their seventh shutout in league

play, gained a 1-0 lead in the first half and held off the Sea Kings.

Both of Northwood’s goals were difficult to defend. The

Timberwolves, ranked No. 6 in CIF Division II, continually attacked

in the first half and outshot Corona del Mar, 8-1. But the Sea Kings

outshot Northwood, 10-4, in the second half.

Senior Kinzie Kramer consistently cleared out Northwood attacks,

while sophomores Jessica Mazura and Kelly Morgan created a few

scoring opportunities. Northwood, however, still found a way to score

after halftime to secure the win.

Northwood junior Milada Rakijian put away a corner kick in the

27th minute for the 1-0 lead, and then senior Jessica Johns finished

an assist from Corinne Stephens, who crossed the ball accurately into

the 18-yard box for Johns with 22 minutes left.

With 11 minutes remaining, freshman Ali Torres appeared to have a

clear shot at the goal but her ball went over the net. Then four

minutes later, Torres started a Corona del Mar attack with a pass in

front of sophomore Rachel Yelsey, who was bolting toward Northwood’s

net.

Yelsey gave it up to Morgan, whose shot was stopped by Northwood

senior goalie Allison Wing.

The loss was a letdown for the Sea Kings, who had a few players

ill, Middleton said. Last week, Corona del Mar outscored its

opponents, 11-1, in wins over University and Calvary Chapel.

The Sea Kings will discover their seeding in the CIF Division II

playoffs Monday.