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.
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