Sea Kings stay strong

Bryce Alderton

Corona del Mar High senior Thomas Pearson wasn’t about to rest on his

laurels following a five-goal outburst in the Sea Kings’ 9-8 overtime

victory over Servite Tuesday.

Wednesday brought another game, this time against Pacific Coast

League foe Tesoro, and Pearson had plenty left in the tank.

The senior two-meter man tallied all five of his game-high five

goals in the first half, helping the host Sea Kings win their fourth

straight game and remain unbeaten in league play following a 16-7

triumph.

Tom Money scored four times while Tyler Kent tallied three goals

for the Sea Kings (11-7, 2-0 in league), who showed little, if any

signs of fatigue following Tuesday’s victory when they scored the

game’s final five goals.

“We learned from our mistakes [Tuesday],” Pearson said. “We came

out relaxed [Tuesday] and picked it up in the third quarter.

[Wednesday], we picked up the intensity, came out strong and it

showed.

“We have been swimming nonstop. It’s not how long, but the quality

of the swims that [CdM Coach] Sam Bailey makes us do that keeps us

strong through the fourth quarter.”

The Sea Kings, though, didn’t have to muster a fourth-quarter

comeback against the Titans (8-8, 1-2) like they did Tuesday against

Servite.

CdM began the fourth quarter with a 13-4 lead, outscoring the

Titans, 7-1, in the second and third periods combined.

Tyler Kent finished with three goals while Jacob Murphy (two),

Blake Schoenberg (one) and Spencer Pirdy (one) all added single goals

for the winners, who were most prolific on counterattacks.

CdM held the Titans scoreless in the second quarter with

aggressive defense and strong goaltending.

Senior goalkeeper Gaston Sanford made five of his eight saves in

the second quarter, including a stop on a point-blank shot by Mike

Meier on one of Tesoro’s seven man-advantage situations.

The Titans, who stayed in the game early with two first-quarter

goals coming on 6-on-5 chances, trailed, 6-3, following one quarter,

but would get no closer the rest of the way.

“I told the kids [the Titans] were capitalizing off our mistakes,

but if we put away our opportunities, we would be fine,” Bailey said

of his speech following the first quarter.

Pirdy tallied five assists while Kyle Hersh added three for the

Sea Kings.

Pirdy and Money each finished with two steals while Michael Berry,

Pearson, Murphy, Sanford and Hersh each had one steal for the Sea

Kings, who host San Clemente, Bailey’s alma mater, at 4 p.m. Friday.

When asked what has sparked 10 goals in two games, Pearson said,

“I’m eating my Wheaties.”

*--*

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 16, Tesoro 7

Score by Quarters

Tesoro 3 0 1 3 -- 7

CdM 6 4 3 3 -- 16

Tesoro -- Colton 3, White 2, Acosta 1, Bryers 1.

Saves -- Volk 7, Hughes 1. CdM -- Pearson 5,

Money 4, Kent 3, Murphy 2, Schoenberg 1, Pirdy 1.

Saves -- Sanford 8, Anthony 2.

*--*