Girls soccer: Streaks on the line

Barry Faulkner

Top-seeded Corona del Mar seeks to protect its 24-game unbeaten

streak, while Newport Harbor aims to end a 22-game unbeaten skein when

the two Back Bay representatives, competing in separate divisions, vie in

the second round of the CIF Southern Section girls soccer playoffs, today

at 3 p.m.

CdM (24-1-3) visits Martin Luther King of Riverside (13-8-2) in

Division IV action, while Newport (12-6-4) hosts Edison (20-1-2) in a

Division II clash. The Newport game is scheduled for the school’s

football stadium, but rainy conditions may force a move to Harper

Elementary.

Coach Ron Evans’ Sea Kings, champions of the Pacific Coast League,

posted their 13th shutout of the season in a 5-0 first-round trouncing of

visiting St. Paul Friday.

CdM, which has outscored opponents, 97-17, this season, dominated its

first-round game, outshooting the Swordsmen, 34-1, and receiving goals

from five different players.

The Sea Kings, who advanced to the Division IV semifinals last season,

opened the playoffs without their top scorer, junior Allison Harvey (25

goals), who sustained torn knee cartilage in the regular-season finale.

Evans said he would like to continue to rest Harvey, until the latter

rounds, though she is available on an “on-call basis.”

King, in its first varsity season and with no seniors, won the Sunkist

League.

Today’s winner will advance to Thursday’s quarterfinal, against either

Ocean View (11-12-3) or Valley Christian of Cerritos (18-1-5).

Newport Harbor, the third-place team from the Sea View League, has won

a pair of playoff games, the school’s first postseason triumphs, to

advance to the second round. The Tars defeated wild-card foe Loara, 5-3,

Wednesday, then handled Troy, 3-1, in Friday’s first round.

Coach Jason Sorrell’s Sailors have produced 10 shutouts and have

outscored opponents, 48-20. The Tars are led offensively by sophomore

forward Amy Burlingham (14 goals), while the back line of senior sweeper

Meredith Miller, sophomore stopper Taryn Flamson, junior Amber Taylor and

junior Lauren Birchfield (as well as junior reserve Kristen Nahin) help

shield junior goalie KiIssa Tyler. Sorrell said defense has been the

team’s strength all season.

Today will be the third meeting between Harbor and Edison. The Tars

handed the Chargers their only defeat, a 2-1 verdict to open the season,

then dropped a 2-0 nonleague decision in Game 10.

The Sunset League champions, who surrendered only one goal in an 8-0-2

league campaign, have posted 10 of their 18 shutouts in the last 11

games. In their last 15 games, the Chargers have given up only two goals

and have outscored opponents, 63-11, for the season.

“We know where their strengths are and they don’t have many

weaknesses,” Sorrell said. “We need to dominate the midfield and shut

them down up front. We need to deny their forwards the ball, then keep

them from running at us when they do get the ball.”

Edison topped Temescal Canyon, 3-0, in the first round.

Today’s winner will advance to Thursday’s quarterfinal against either

No. 4-seeded Claremont (20-2-5) or Thousand Oaks (14-6-3).