Boys soccer: Sea Kings supreme in 2-0 win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Whoever said opposites attract never watched the

Corona del Mar High boys soccer team play against Estancia.

Friday’s Pacific Coast League matchup of Newport-Mesa District rivals

included three scuffles and three yellow flags, but the bigger story was

how the teams are in two completely different situations.

The Sea Kings (4-6-2, 1-0-1 in the PCL) are high after a 2-0 win at

Estancia, while the Eagles (3-8, 0-2) are low after completing their

worst performance of the season.

“Definitely, our best game of the year, in terms of defending,” CdM

Coach Pat Callaghan said. “(Estancia) has had some good results, but I

don’t know if they are the team that they were last year. We’re an

improved team, but I don’t know if they are. But I know our team played

well (Friday). The score didn’t indicate how well we played.”

Meanwhile, Eagles Coach Steve Crenshaw was disgusted, to say the

least, of how his team could not carry over intensity gathered from

practices and a 3-0 loss at Northwood Wednesday.

“We played well against Northwood,” Crenshaw said. “We played with

guts. Today was a total turnaround. We played with no intensity. No guts.

It was the worst soccer I have seen. It can’t be about fear because there

is no reason to be afraid of Corona del Mar. It was just, (the Eagles)

don’t think. They went through the motions. They don’t translate anything

from the practice field to the game.”

On the contrary, everything seemed to fall into place for the Sea

Kings Friday. They displayed intensity from the outset and earned a goal

eight minutes into the contest. CdM sophomore Danny Whitaker threw in the

ball to junior Blake Dillion, who tapped it back to Whitaker near the

corner. Whitaker then unleashed a near-perfect cross in front of

Estancia’s goal and senior Aldo Bautista headed it in for a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes prior to Bautista’s goal, the Eagles found what would be

their only scoring chance of the day. From a counterattack, Estancia

junior Javier Millan passed the ball over to junior Nikolai Doudtchenko,

who booted a shot that caromed off the right post of CdM’s goal.

“Our team played real well,” Callaghan said. “Granted, (Estancia) is a

good, young team, but our style really matches up well with them. (CdM)

just came together and played real good soccer.”

The Sea Kings continued to attack after their 1-0 lead and in the

final minute of the first half delivered a back-breaking goal. Andy

Almquist, CdM’s senior team captain, put a nice touch on his free kick

from near midfield that landed in front Estancia’s net. Senior Brett

Luchesi tapped a pass over to Whitaker, who quickly took advantage of an

open net.

CdM maintained control in the second half with its defense led by

Almquist. Sea Kings goalkeeper Geoff Collier also played solid defense.

Though he had just two saves, he frequently left the net to stuff

Estancia attacks.

The Eagles also received some defensive help in the second half,

preventing the Sea Kings from extending their lead. Senior Rolando Vivar

and goalkeeper Giovanni Gonzalez, who had eight saves, made some key

defensive stops.

Crenshaw said he hopes Estancia can reach its potential soon.

Estancia’s crosstown rivals, the Costa Mesa Mustangs (7-3-1, 1-0-1), are

coming to the Eagles’ field Wednesday at 3:15 p.m.

“If we can’t get up for Costa Mesa, then something is definitely

wrong,” Crenshaw said.