Girls’ Soccer: CdM streak in danger
IRVINE — With three league games remaining, the Corona del Mar High girls’ soccer team trailed Northwood in Pacific Coast League play. But at least the Sea Kings knew that they controlled their own destiny.
Now two league games remain, and the Sea Kings no longer have control following Thursday’s 2-1 loss at University.
Thursday’s loss, combined with Northwood’s 2-1 win over Woodbridge, have combined to put Corona del Mar’s streak of four straight outright league titles in jeopardy. Rival Northwood (6-1-1 in league) has 13 points, which is three more than CdM (10-6-2, 4-2-2 in league).
The Timberwolves can clinch the outright title by winning against University on Tuesday.
“It just makes the race for making the playoffs a little bit tighter,” said CdM Coach Bryan Middleton, whose team still is in second place in league. “It’s definitely do-able for making the playoffs, we just have to make sure we have positive results in our last two games against Beckman and Northwood. It makes it exciting.”
CdM closes league with two home games. The Sea Kings play Beckman on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium, and finish against Northwood on Thursday.
University (2-3-2 in league) holds out hope of finishing top three in the league to also advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The Trojans were happy to play spoiler to CdM on Thursday.
Junior defender Kathy Gao scored for the hosts in the 36th minute, then senior midfielder Hanna Ghamari found the back of the net in the 44th minute. Ghamari’s goal, which came from just outside the box on the right side, was a back-breaker to CdM.
The Sea Kings picked up their intensity and got a goal from senior midfielder and co-captain Shelby Brown in stoppage time, on a free kick from 41 yards out. But two more minutes passed before the final whistle, and CdM couldn’t get another shot on goal.
“They get the second goal, and that’s when we finally start playing our game,” Middleton said. “A little bit too late to bring the intensity in the last 15 minutes. We brought it with emotion and we started matching their physical play in the last 15 minutes, but it was too late … We simply ran out of time.”
CdM lost sophomore forward Hunter Gantos to a cut above the eye late in the first half Thursday. The Sea Kings also played without senior defender and co-captain Brynn Motal (knee). Middleton said Motal has an MRI scheduled for Friday but is most likely out for the season.
Junior Caroline Bethel took her place Thursday from CdM, which also received solid defending from Birkley Sigband, Hailey Neumann, Christina Venturini and Ally Doherty. Junior goalie Skyler Gullick made five saves.
CdM had several more free kicks in the waning moments of the game, but every time University sophomore keeper Kerri Luttrell (seven saves) was there to make the save or knock the ball away.
“Obviously, it’s huge,” University Coach Martin Stibolt said. “We need wins, we need points. I think a league title is a little bit far-fetched, but we’re still hoping to qualify for CIF. We need to win out, and this was a huge first step.”
A step forward for the Trojans, and a step backward for the Sea Kings.
“I’ve seen them play before, and I knew they had a lot of talent,” Middleton said. “They brought it, they wanted it. They worked a little bit harder than we did today.”
