Girls soccer: Sea Kings strike again

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - Now the University High girls soccer team knows

what the fishermen caught in “The Perfect Storm” went through following

Thursday’s 4-0 Pacific Coast League loss to host Corona del Mar.

Wave after wave of Sea King attackers crushed into the stern of the

Trojans’ soccer ship. Four goals were scored but there were another six

or seven opportunities that just missed the back of the net.

“It’s funny, we lost seven girls last year, and we all thought this

was going to be a down year for us,” CdM Coach Ron Evans said. “The key

to our success has been fun and cohesiveness. This group just loves to

have fun out there. This may not be the easiest coaching job I’ve ever

had, but it certainly is the most fun.”

Senior Jaycee Mahler had two goals and one assist to lead the Sea

Kings (17-1-2, 3-0 in league), ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section

Division IV. Junior Allison Harvey added a goal and an assist and

sophomore Paige Janes had a solo tally.

According the Evans, Mahler, who played as a freshman, but sat out the

last two seasons, just might be the additional weapon that could help CdM

give four-time Division IV champion Chaminade a run for its title.

“I figured going into this year, we had Allison and that would be

about it,” Evans said. “When Jaycee got here with her red shoes and

(backward baseball cap), I was thinking to myself, ‘Uh oh.’ But she’s

come in here and has given us another solid weapon up front. Now,

opponents have a couple of people to keep an eye on.”

It was a game totally dominated by CdM from the opening whistle. The

Sea Kings outshot Uni, 19-5.

Jones got CdM on the scoreboard first. Senior Molly O’Meara sent in a

corner kick, right to Jones, who headed the ball into the net in the

seventh minute.

Eight minutes later, off a designed play, Margit Vogele threw the ball

in to Harvey, who touch-passed it to Mahler for her first goal of the

game, giving CdM a 2-0 advantage.

The Trojans’ best scoring opportunity came in the first half off a

hard shot from Shella Sedeghi. But CdM goalie Britta Vogele (four saves)

intercepted the liner.

“Our defense is one of the the best in Orange County and it’s led by

our three senior co-captains,” Evans said. “Margit, Britta and O’Meara

have all done a great job of leading by example and they are a large

reason for our success.”

In the second half, Mahler used some excellent ballhandling skills to

break free from defenders. She then drove down the right side of the

field and fed a perfect pass to Harvey, who chipped in a point-blank shot

for a 3-0 lead.

University (0-2-1 in league) missed its only other shot at a goal when

Jen Marquand’s shot off a corner kick sailed wide left.

Mahler closed out the Sea Kings’ scoring. After a CdM shot caromed off

the crossbar, Mahler was there to recover the ball and find the back of

the net.

“Right now, we’re doing all the little things right,” Evans said.

“Twenty games into the season and we still haven’t been shut out. And

that’s against teams like Santa Margarita, Newport Harbor, Mission Viejo

and La Serna, among others.”

The Sea Kings will host Northwood at home Monday, beginning at 3:15

p.m., followed by a big showdown at Costa Mesa Tuesday, also at 3:15. The

original battle between the Sea Kings and Timberwolves on Jan. 11 was

postponed due to rain.

“When we come back (today) for practice, all we’re going to talk about

is Northwood,” Evans said. “We can’t look past them and think about Costa

Mesa.”

Evans thinks the Mustangs (11-2-2, 3-0) will be his team’s toughest

PCL competition.

“Last year, we beat them, 1-0, at their place with about a minute left

in the game and we ended, 0-0, at our place,” Evans said. “They’re a

talented team that knows how to play serious defense. It’s going to be a

great matchup.”