Fittingly, a tie

NEWPORT BEACH — The game ended in a tie.

But Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer Coach Pat Callaghan said the result felt like a loss and Newport Harbor Coach Ryan Hernandez said it felt like a win.

The mixed emotions were due in part because the Sailors, with the tie, maintained possession of the bell, which they earned from a 1-0 victory in last season’s Battle of the Bay. The difference in feelings were also because of how the tie came about.

In stoppage time, Newport Harbor senior defender Kyle Rohan prepared for a throw-in near the corner on the Corona del Mar side of the field. Rohan launched the ball into a sea of players, where it was deflected in to tie the game, 1-1.

“I think Jeremy [Anish] got it,” Rohan said. “I was just trying to get it in there and let one of my teammates get a head on it.”

When the equalizer went in the Newport Harbor players ran to the center of the field celebrating, while those on the bench rang the golden bell that had sat by their side the entire night.

“It’s indescribable,” Rohan said. “To come back and have that feeling it was so awesome.”

After the match, the Sailors scheduled an alumni game which Hernandez planned to play in. The outcome made it a little easier for him to take the field.

“I wouldn’t have been in as good a mood if we wouldn’t have scored. It will be more fun now,” Hernandez said. “When we scored I told them to ding the bell. I was pretty stoked. I think we deserved it. Everybody played well, but I’m really proud of the seniors. It was their night. They’ll always have that memory of defending the bell.”

On the other side of the field Callaghan lamented the outcome, but was proud of how his team played in their last two games, both ties, after a six-game losing streak.

“It feels like a loss,” Callaghan said. “But we had a great week of practice. You have to give them credit for that long throw-in. The ball snuck in there. The way we played is the most important thing. Our season is not about the bell. We just want to get prepared to play league.”

The Sea Kings have the benefit of playing in the Pacific Coast League, which is wide open. No team has a winning record and two of the five teams are winless. Corona del Mar opens up the league season Jan. 10 at Beckman, which is currently in first with a 4-5 record.

“We changed some things in terms of formations and style of play,” Callaghan said. “The players are more trusting of each other.”

Corona del Mar took a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the game. Junior forward Paolo Iaccarino was fouled 45 yards from the goal. Senior midfielder Bryan Burke lined up the free kick and blasted it into the 18-yard box. Freshman forward Reed Williams fought his way through the crowd to score the goal.

“Reed tapped it with his chest, got it under control and kicked it past the goalie,” Iaccarino said. “We played really hard but we didn’t put the ball in the net enough.”

The game intensified in the second half as the two teams combined for three yellow cards.

“It was fun physical play,” Iaccarino said. “The refs ruined it.”

After tying the game, the Sailors set up a free kick and almost scored. The game ended with Newport Harbor preparing to throw in near the CdM goal.

“We had a lot of chances,” Hernandez said. “I couldn’t tell you who is the more talented team. Every time these two teams get together it’s going to be a battle. Losing at the last minute is always hard. It felt like a victory. The keeper for them did a good job. It was a very even game.”

Next up for both teams is the Trabuco Hills Mustang Invitational which begins Thursday. Corona del Mar will play Cerritos and Santa Ana, which is ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division III. Newport faces Segerstrom and Capistrano Valley.

“We had a rough start because we weren’t putting the ball in,” Iaccarino said. “We’re playing really good now. We’ll do well in league. Everything is slowly coming together.”