Morgan sparking hot Corona del Mar squad

Chris Yemma

If it is written that a soccer team can score at will, it’s usually

not a literal meaning.

If a team needed a goal within two minutes or it would lose, it’s

more likely the team wouldn’t get that goal.

Unless, that is, if the team has an offensive weapon that is

itching to end the game so she can go home.

During the Corona del Mar High girls soccer team’s Dec. 22 game

against Marina for third place in the Irvine tournament, junior Kelly

Morgan wasn’t expecting the game to go into overtime. She had plans

to attend a Christmas party for her club soccer team.

The sudden-death overtime against Marina threw her for a loop.

“I told her just to score so we can all go home and she can go to

her Christmas party,” Corona del Mar Coach Bryan Middleton said.

And so, within two minutes, Morgan came out and ended the game.

“She has the ability to change a game in a second,” Middleton

said. “When she is determined in situations, she scores goals.”

Morgan currently has five goals this season, tying junior Jessica

Mazura for the most on the team. Morgan led the team last year with

12 goals and four assists, but already has six assists this year.

But as she transforms into more of an all-around offensive player,

she still possesses the ability to score at will if need be.

“Anytime she’s in the game, she’s a threat to score,” Middleton

said.

With Morgan leading the way, the Sea Kings (8-8, 3-1 in the

Pacific Coast League) have won six of the last seven games. They were

on a six-game winning streak until Tuesday -- suffering a 2-1 loss to

visiting Northwood.

But after starting the season against stacked teams and losing

frequently, Corona del Mar has jumped out to a quick 3-1 league

record.

Morgan, only a junior, is trying to follow in her sister Elisha’s

footsteps. Elisha Morgan, now 20, played for CdM and went on to play

for UC Santa Barbara. Kelly Morgan also wants to attend UCSB.

With more than a year of high school left to improve, her chances

are looking pretty good.

“She’s a college-level player already,” Middleton said.