Sea Kings stumble against Lancers

Bryce Alderton

The goals came in flurries, quick strikes that shook the Corona del

Mar High boys soccer team off its magical CIF playoff run.

CdM held strong the first 30 minutes, but top-seeded Thousand Oaks

scored twice before halftime to take control and didn’t look back in

reaching its first CIF section final with a 4-1 Southern Section

Division II semifinal victory Tuesday at Moorpark College.

The Sea Kings (15-4-6), winners of six straight coming in, had

allowed just four goals in three prior playoff games, but the speedy

Lancers (26-3-3) were a step quicker and more opportunistic, traits

CdM Coach Pat Callaghan had grown accustomed to seeing out of his

team of late.

“We did not deserve to win today,” Callaghan said. “We played

hard, but weren’t as aggressive as I would have liked. [The Lancers]

controlled and pressured toward the ball.”

About 80 CdM fans -- spread along the sideline -- made the nearly

two-hour commute to watch a game played on a large field -- 110 feet

long by 75 feet wide -- and in cold conditions. A brisk east-to-west

wind during the first half with a slight drizzle accompanying it.

The Sea Kings went against the wind in the first half and mustered

just two shots to the Lancers’ seven.

“We were against the elements in a tough situation,” Callaghan

said. “I would have felt fine down, 1-0, heading into halftime, but

2-0 is a different story with the psyche.”

Chance Myers -- standing just inside the 18-yard box -- headed in

a free kick from Pedro Gonzalez to give Thousand Oaks a 2-0 lead in

the 36th minute, a minute after Miguel Morales scored the game’s

first goal. Morales almost ran into the left post, but got his foot

on a one-timed pass from Jason Leopoldo (three assists) to sneak the

ball inside the net.

The Sea Kings opened the second half with a flurry of activity,

but had little to show for it.

Senior Cory Azzalino came across the six-yard box to get a foot on

a 40-yard free kick by Dominic Rubino, but the shot sailed over the

goal in the 46th minute. Danny Marin-Finn lobbed a ball inside the

18-yard box, but couldn’t quite connect with a teammate.

Several passes intended for Sea King forwards were gobbled up and

quickly cleared by Thousand Oaks defenders covering the width of the

field.

The Lancers took a 4-0 lead before CdM senior Chris Ringstrom

scored his 23rd goal of the season. Getting a screen by senior

forward Danny Whitaker, Ringstrom patiently moved across the box to

deflect a 40-yard free kick from Rubino inside the near post.

“To rebound after the first or second goal would have been huge,”

Callaghan said. “But, obviously, the first goal of the second half

killed us.”

Paul Lupanow took a pass from Leopoldo and fired the ball inside

the near post to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead in the 49th minute.

Callaghan moved three midfielders up in the second half to

increase the pressure and it resulted in 10 shots. Jeritt Thayer took

four shots while Parker Ferguson’s header was stopped by Thousand

Oaks goalkeeper Kenny Negron, who made five saves. CdM goalkeeper Jay

Zimmerman made one save.

Thousand Oaks Mark Tietjen, in his 11th season at the school, said

his team worked for 45 minutes in the rain Monday on set plays

including free and corner kicks. The practice paid off as the Lancers

scored twice off free kicks.

“They didn’t let up. They put the nail in the coffin,” Tietjen

said.

Despite the loss, Callaghan remained proud of his team’s effort,

against what he said was the best team the Sea Kings, the Pacific

Coast League champions, have faced this year.

“I feel good about the year,” Callaghan said.