Girls soccer: CdM vs. Mesa, another tie

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - After yet another Pacific Coast League battle of

Newport-Mesa District rivals, Corona del Mar High girls soccer coach Ron

Evans delivered a message to the Costa Mesa squad, which played to a

scoreless tie with the visiting Sea Kings, Tuesday.

“I’m happy you’re out of the league next year,” Evans said, somewhat

in jest. “You guys always play us tough.”

The Mustangs (11-5-4, 4-2-3 in the PCL), who will play in the Golden

West League next year, created just as many scoring opportunities as CdM

(11-4-7, 4-1-4), so it seemed only fitting the game ended in a tie.

As a result, the wild PCL is displaying its character as league-leader

CdM, with 11 points, has a one-point lead on Costa Mesa, Northwood and

University. Thursday at 3:15 p.m., the Sea Kings, the two-time defending

champions, will host Northwood, which lost to CdM, 4-1 in the first

round. Mesa will play at Laguna Beach, (which has nine points) also on

Thursday at 6 p.m.

CdM clinched a playoff spot with the tie, yet the playoffs appeared to

have begun Tuesday, when Mesa duplicated its effort from the squads’

meeting Jan. 17, that ended in a 1-1 tie.

Costa Mesa Coach Dan Johnston is hoping Tuesday’s matchup won’t be the

last of the two teams playing against each other. He plans to schedule a

game with CdM next year.

“Everybody is intense,” Johnston said, describing the atmosphere of

the Sea Kings-Mustangs matchup. “There is a little bit of nervousness at

the beginning, but once they all get settled down, there is some great

soccer being played. They bring out the best in one another. And a lot of

them have known each other since they were little, so it’s a game that’s

played at a high level.”

The evenly matched intensity reflected on to the statistics, as both

teams tied in shots, 11-11, saves, 6-6, and corner kicks, 4-4.

CdM junior sweeper Paige Janes led the Sea Kings defense, while Mesa

junior sweeper Devin Denman took charge of the Mustangs defense. Both

players made key plays to shut down scoring opportunities, as did CdM

freshman goalkeeper Rachel Waters and Mesa sophomore goaltender Kaitlyn

Gentling.

Gentling was busy in the first 15 minutes, recording three saves. CdM

junior Elisha Morgan fired a shot in the 9th minute, senior Alison

Brawner struck another two minutes later and senior Allison Harvey booted

one, but Gentling stopped them all.

Costa Mesa junior Sharon Day nearly scored in the 27th minute. She

displayed her trademark speed after stealing the ball and dribbling 80

yards to create a breakaway. Her shot scooted just right of CdM’s net,

simultaneously as she was knocked over. No foul was called.

CdM came close to scoring twice in the second half, when senior

Kristin Hanson’s shot sailed inches to the right of the net in the 72nd

minute. CdM senior Jaclyn Thayer got even closer. After a throw-in from

freshman Vanessa Fallon, junior Alivia Mazura produced a cross for

Thayer, who was in front of an empty portion of the net. But Thayer’s

shot drifted over the goal.

Fallon was brought up from junior varsity to fill in for junior Lauren

Loe, who fractured her leg in the 3-3 tie with University Thursday. Loe

is out of for the season.

“We just couldn’t lose this game,” Evans said. “We win on Thursday and

we’re still league champs. Overall, I’m happy with our performance. Jenny

Long broke out for us and set up some nice crosses. Lauren Shepherdson in

the middle did a great job on making sure Day didn’t break away in the

second half.”

CdM sophomore Kinzie Kramer also defended well, while Costa Mesa

freshman Nilani Duarte and senior teammates Sarah Ronquillo and Lisa Dunn

turned in solid performances.