Sea Kings slip up in nonleague loss at Huntington, 4-1

Steve Virgen

The Corona del Mar High boys soccer team’s 4-1 nonleague loss at

Huntington Beach Friday could perhaps be described as fitting since

it was Friday the 13th. But, the superstition of the day would not

apply to the Oilers, who played their best game of the young season.

Simply put, the Sea Kings (3-1) were out of sync, never found

rhythm, and struggled on defense, while Huntington Beach (3-2)

thrived on CdM’s mistakes and built a 3-0 halftime lead en route to

the victory.

“We started off defending poorly,” CdM Coach Pat Callaghan said

after his team’s first loss of the season. “We got out of sync and

gave the ball away. But, you have to give them credit because they

were the ones who took advantage. It’s too bad because we had been

defending well.”

Callaghan also said the Sea Kings improved in the second half, but

it was a little too late. CdM scored with eight minutes remaining,

when junior forward Chris Ringstrom headed a ball into the net after

a free kick by senior Brandon Zarian from near midfield to cut the

deficit, 3-1. CdM junior Danny Whitaker created the free kick, when a

Huntington Beach player climbed on his back and was whistled for the

foul.

The Oilers scored again off a corner kick with less than two

minutes left. They scored their third goal with less than a minute to

play in the first half.

The Sea Kings had three other scoring chances in the second half,

including a play in which Zarian centered a pass to teammate Jerrit

Thayer, whose header was stopped by the fingertips of the Oilers’

goalie.

Oilers’ assistant coach Matt Moseley, a former player at Orange

Coast College, said Huntington Beach played its best game of the

season mainly because they were winning balls in the first half.

Callaghan was an assistant coach at OCC when Moseley played there in

2000, when the Pirates reached the state championship match.

Elsewhere Friday:

CdM girls tie, 0-0

Missing its two best players, the Corona del Mar High girls soccer

team managed a 0-0 tie against host Aliso Niguel Friday in Aliso

Niguel.

Already without three-time ALL-CIF forward Elisha Morgan, who is

recovering at home after bruising her lower back on a fall sustained

in CdM’s nonleague win over Ocean View Thursday, the Sea Kings

(2-1-1) played Friday without the services of Alivia Muzura, also an

All-CIF selection a year ago.

CdM Coach Bryan Middleton said Muzura may have a dislocated

shoulder and believes it could have occurred in a game against

Mission Viejo Tuesday. Muzura saw the school trainer Friday and told

Middleton she felt pain so the first-year coach decided to hold her

out of the Aliso game.

With both players out, Middleton shuffled his lineup. He started

Taylor Fallon in Morgan’s place and placed Kelly Morgan in Muzura’s

spot.

“We had a few chances and they had some chances, but it was not an

offensive shootout,” Middleton said. “It was a good showing by our

younger individuals. No one gave up the entire 80 minutes.”

CdM tallied four shots and the Wolverines (1-2-2) had at least

five shots, Middleton added.

Sea King goalkeeper Rachel Waters made five saves.

Corona del Mar returns to the playing field the St. Margaret’s

Tournament in San Juan Capistrano Friday.

Sage Hill boys roll

The Sage Hill High boys soccer team came back from a 1-0 deficit,

but allowed a goal with less than a minute and settled for a 2-2 tie

against nonleague host Webb in Claremont.

Sage Hill senior Zach Friedrichs scored on an assist from junior

Chris Chiboucas in the 50th minute to tie the score, 1-1. Then, 15

minutes later Lightning junior Cesar Arriaga put in an assisted goal,

giving Sage Hill a 2-1 lead. But Webb (2-1-1) came with the equalizer

with under a minute left after a scramble near the net.

Sage Hill (3-0-1) resumes action Monday at 3:15 p.m., hosting Whittier Christian.

Estancia boys fall

The Estancia High boys soccer team could not hold on to a 1-0 lead

and lost, 2-1, to visiting La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) Friday in

nonleague action.

The Eagles (3-3) gained a 1-0 edge in the 25th minute, after Luis

Mendoza drew a penalty when he was taken down in the box. He made the

subsequent penalty kick.

La Costa Canyon came back with a goal, seven minutes later, then

score again 10 minutes into the second half for the gamewinner.

Estancia goalies Sergio Madrigal and Eddie Rubalcava combined for

five saves.

The Costa Mesa boys soccer team did not play its scheduled game

Friday because of a bus scheduling problem. The Mustangs have

rescheduled the game at Rancho Alamitos on Monday at 3:15 p.m.