No winners, no losers

NEWPORT BEACH — One of the most dramatic games of the season ended in a draw Thursday at Corona del Mar High.

Newport Harbor (4-1-3) and Corona del Mar (4-3-1) each scored early in the first half, but neither could pull away, despite open looks at the goal, and the teams tied, 1-1.

Corona del Mar senior midfielder Alexandra Elias scored in the third minute off an assist from sophomore midfielder Hayley Raguse.

It didn’t take long for Newport Harbor to answer, and senior Emily Ohlhaver booted in the score off a left cross-kick from senior Crystal Mena in the 13th minute.

Solid defense from CdM freshman goalkeeper Lindsey Luke and Newport Harbor’s defenders kept the game tied for the rest of regulation.

Luke had seven saves for CdM, including catches on three straight possessions.

In the eyes of first-year head coach Larry Draluck, the pent-up energy for this one game was part of the reason why the Sailors were unable to settle down into the type of game they wanted to play.

“I want to play creative soccer,” Draluck said. “We tried, but we kind of got caught up in the emotion of the game. I don’t think we were able to relax and play with poise and actually play a thoughtful game. We played on our emotion, and I think the opponent did as well.”

One girl ran onto the field after halftime and let out a yell that seemed better-suited for a gladiator about to battle a lion.

Draluck called it false bravado.

“I said to them, ‘See guys? Is this Battle of the Bay or Bay of Pigs? What is it?’ ” Draluck said.

Ohlhaver and Rachel Baugh, both seniors, thought Corona del Mar controlled the tempo of the game and took the Sailors away from the more deliberate style of play they enjoy.

“It’s completely frustrating,” Baugh said. “We probably played one of our worst games, mostly because we played down to them. They play kind of a kick-it-and-run system, and we started doing the same thing, and it kind of cost us the game.”

Sea Kings Coach Bryan Middleton was encouraged by the fact that his young team could keep up with Newport Harbor, particularly since three CdM players suffer from athletic-induced asthma.

“[Elizabeth] Eddy, their top player, is very, very, very fast,” Middleton said. “I was trying to rotate girls on her and mark her with some speed that we had. It took a toll on us a little bit, but we still persevered all the way through.”

Middleton had to use some strategy with substituting players, because one girl would have too much trouble breathing to keep up, and would come off the field gasping and wheezing loudly.

Running hard in cool, dry air can trigger the attacks, and the Sea Kings were in luck that the final seconds were running down as sophomore defender Brynn Johnson plopped to her knees because of an asthma attack.

“It’s not like regular asthma because they’re only supposed to use their inhaler once before the competition,” Middleton said. “During it, they have to catch their breath on their own.”

Despite the difference in enrollment size between the two schools — Corona del Mar is much smaller than Newport Harbor — Middleton was loath to say that tying the Sailors was almost like a win.

“It’s not a win,” Middleton said. “It’s a tie, but character building and playing all the way through for the full 80 minutes, it’s a total positive experience for us in getting us prepared for league and hopefully the playoffs.”

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.