A high five for Molnar

CORONA DEL MAR — Noah Molnar picked a great time to have his highest scoring game of the season.

The sophomore midfielder scored five goals to help lead the Corona del Mar High boys’ lacrosse team to a 13-4 nonleague victory over Back Bay rival Newport Harbor at CdM Saturday morning. It was the first time the teams met in the inaugural year of lacrosse being a CIF sport at both schools.

“It was a little special because it was Battle of the Bay,” said Molnar, who played defensive back for the CdM football team. “It felt good to beat them and know that we are champions in the Battle of the Bay. It felt good to beat them in both of my sports [football and lacrosse] this year.”

Molnar scored two unassisted goals to give the Sea Kings an early lead in the first quarter. He also scored an unassisted goal late in the opening quarter to give CdM a 4-1 advantage. He scored two more goals in the fourth quarter.

The Sea Kings led, 6-2, at halftime. Apparently, they expected to dominate.

“I’m not really surprised [by the margin of victory],” said Mike Kidushim, a Corona del Mar junior who scored four goals and had one assist. “We knew we could beat them pretty bad. They played pretty well. They came out fired up, but they kind of let up after we were ahead by four goals.”

Molnar said the Sea Kings lost to the Sailors last year, but Newport Harbor had a few key seniors then.

“I knew we were a lot stronger team than them,” Molnar said. “Last year we were just a bit inexperienced.”

Kidushim younger brother, Dave, a sophomore, and Ryan Mix contributed two assists each. Junior Nick Taylor had eight groundballs and junior Kevin Kottke had five for the Sea Kings.

Ryan Hanrahan and Cory Ames scored two goals each for Newport Harbor.