CdM improves but ties

CORONA DEL MAR — The end result turned out to be less important to the Corona del Mar High girls’ soccer team than how the match began.

The Sea Kings tied Pacific Coast League foe Laguna Hills, 2-2, Thursday at home, but held a 2-0 lead at halftime on goals from sophomore Cosie Andujai and junior Lexi Hensen.

The first half was polar opposite to Corona del Mar’s league opener, a 3-0 loss to Beckman two days prior, giving Sea Kings Coach Bryan Middleton confidence his team (3-6-5, 0-1-1 in league) has wiped away the rust brought on by a two-and-a-half-week break.

“We came out with a lot of spirit,” Middleton said. “But having it 2-0 at halftime is almost the kiss of death.”

The Hawks tied the game over a 20-minute spurt late in the second half.

“We had a breakdown in the second half,” Middleton said. “It was great to see them rebound from that.”

From then until the second overtime ended, the offenses took turns passing each others’ goals with shots.

Andujai set up senior Kaleigh Trider for a header in the goal box that missed wide and had her own shot punched away by the Hawks’ goalkeeper in the final minutes of regulation.

“We fought until the end,” Andujai said. “We should have won. Every player gave it 100 percent.”

The newly implemented overtime in the Pacific Coast League brought a raised level of anticipation as each team came within inches of victory.

In the first overtime, Laguna Hills hit the left post once and the crossbar twice on shot attempts.

“It’s so nerve racking when it hits the post,” Hensen said. “I thought they were going to go in.”

Corona del Mar answered as Andujai nailed the crossbar on a free kick from 50 yards. The ball nearly ricocheted into the net and the Sea Kings came close to poking in the rebound.

“I thought that one was going in,” Andujai said.

Andujai started the second overtime with a free kick from 35 yards out that the Laguna Hills’ goalkeeper had to punch away.

“Cosie had a good game,” Middleton said. “She definitely had some nice kicks.”

Hensen said the game was positive in contrast to the match against Beckman.

“We definitely played a lot more aggressive than we did against Beckman,” Hensen said. “We talked about finishing and stepping to the ball better and to be more aggressive.”

Hensen opened up the scoring for Corona del Mar 15 minutes into the first half. She won the ball from the defender then created enough room to fire a shot past the near post.

“Alex Tobiessen hit me with a little cross,” Hensen said. “I had to wrestle the defender a little bit. I didn’t think I was going to get it, but [the defender’s] touch perfectly set it up.”

Andujai picked up her goal on a free kick, setting up just outside the goal box and weaving it around the wall and past the goalie. She said kicking is a regular focus of hers.

“I was trying to curve it in,” she said. “My dad makes me practice kicking a lot.”

Freshman goalkeeper Corey Cano made seven saves. One came as she dove and punched the ball away in overtime and another she stopped a breakaway from a Laguna Hills forward.

Middleton said senior Anna Fletcher also played well on defense.

“Today was good,” Middleton said. “We’re going together still. In the Pacific Coast League, the teams are pretty even across the board. The season is wide open.”

Corona del Mar plays host to Irvine Tuesday. The Sea Kings have had an erratic season, never winning or losing more than two in a row.

“It’s a bummer we didn’t win, but coming out strong is positive,” Hensen said. “I really think it was positive.”