Girls soccer: CdM, Mesa on collision course

Barry Faulkner

The girls soccer teams from Corona del Mar and Costa Mesa high

schools, who battled for the Pacific Coast League championship last

season, are scheduled to meet Thursday at CdM to highlight a crucial week

of play for Newport-Mesa District squads.

Coach Ron Evans’ CdM squad (9-3-3, 2-0 in the PCL) is bidding for a

third straight league title. The Sea Kings, ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern

Section Division IV, No. 8 in Orange County and tied with Northwood atop

the PCL after one week, host University Tuesday, then host Costa Mesa

Thursday.

Mesa (8-4-1, 1-1), ranked No. 10 in CIF Division IV, will warm up for

the CdM showdown by visiting Estancia Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in the Sea View League, Newport Harbor (7-6-2, 0-1-1),

ranked No. 6 in Orange County and CIF Division II, will try to rebound

from a rocky start with another tough week.

Coach Jason Sorrell’s unit will visit Laguna Hills Tuesday, before

hosting Woodbridge, ranked No. 4 in CIF Division II, Thursday.

“Without a doubt, it’s a big week for us,” Evans said. “University

knocked off Aliso Niguel (No. 3 in the county), 3-2, earlier in the year

and we lost to Aliso, 2-0, so we have to be focused Tuesday. And a lot of

our training sessions have been spent on what we’re going to have to do

against Costa Mesa. (The Mustangs) tied us (1-1 last year in the first

round of PCL play), then we beat them, 1-0, so we had two really tough

games with them last year. And from what I’ve heard, they’re even

stronger this year than they were last year.”

Mesa Coach Dan Johnston also expects a tough battle against CdM, which

is 17-0-3 since entering the PCL.

“I think there are five teams in the PCL that, on any given day, can

beat anyone else,” Johnston said. “CdM is clearly the team to knock off.

It’s obvious (the Sea Kings) have a lot of talent, but I think the talent

they graduated last year will be hard to overcome. Last year, their

goalie (Britta Vogele, now at Iowa) made four of five of the best saves

I’ve seen against us. I think our girls will be bucked up by the fact

that she’s not there, although the goalie they have this year (freshman

Rachel Waters) has been doing a fine job.”

Defense has been a key for both Mesa and CdM, as has offensive

balance.

The Sea Kings are coming off shutout victories over Laguna Beach and

Estancia, in which they scored a combined 16 goals.

CdM is bolstered by the return of All-CIF Southern Section midfielder

Elisha Morgan, a junior who played her first game of the season against

Estancia. Morgan, recovered from knee surgery, had a goal and two assists

in limited action against the Eagle and Evans believes her spark at

midfield is a huge plus.

The Sea Kings, however, have several strong weapons already in

late-season form, including senior forward Allison Harvey and junior

Lauren Shepherdson.

“We had nine different players score against Estancia,” Evans said.

Defensively, junior sweeper Paige Janes is joined by Shepherdson

(stopper) and fullbacks Kinzie Kramer and Lauren Loe to provide Waters a

solid back line.

“We’ve really been playing solidly in the back,” Evans said.

Johnston also credited his team’s defense, keyed by senior sweeper

Devin Denman.

Offensively, junior midfielder Sharon Day, as well as forwards Sarah

Ronquillo, a senior, and Jenny Sparks, a freshman, have 11 goals apiece

for the Mustangs.

“The trick will be to keep (the Sea Kings) out of the net,” Johnston

said. “With all their talent, if we can keep them out of the net, we have

enough weapons this year, offensively, that we’re going to put pressure

on them.”

Johnston said his team was contrite after Thursday’s 3-0 loss to

Northwood, and will go through some “tough practices” before taking on

CdM.

He also said playing Estancia (3-11, 0-2), outscored, 20-0 in league

thus far, won’t help the Mustangs build toward Thursday’s challenge.

“Playing Estancia does not build confidence,” Johnston said. “Not to

grind (the Eagles’) noses in it, but they’re not who you want to play to

get ready for a big match.”

Newport Harbor, which had won 7 of 8, including a 1-0 triumph over rival CdM, heading into league, was beaten by Aliso Niguel, 1-0, then

tied Irvine, 0-0, to open league on shaky ground.

The Sailors need a strong showing this week to remain in title

contention. Thursday’s home game against Woodbridge is scheduled for 5

p.m.

Academy League representative Sage Hill hosts Calvary Chapel of Downey

Tuesday and is at Oxford Academy Thursday.