Brothers step up for CdM

IRVINE — Why have your younger brother introduce you again to the opposing goalkeeper when you can do it yourself?

Mitchell Williams took care of it himself in the second half of the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer match Friday.

The first time he greeted University’s Kiko Antonelli, the offering went right past him. The second time produced the same result.

Williams made sure Antonelli wouldn’t forget him, as he scored twice to lead the Sea Kings to a 3-0 Pacific Coast League victory at Las Lomas Community Park in Irvine.

“The goalie, he plays on my brother’s club team,” Williams said. “I know him.”

Now he does. Maybe not as well as his brother, Reed Williams, a sophomore, who added the third goal.

Still, Mitchell got acquainted with Antonelli.

Only once before Mitchell said he had scored a goal in a match this season, but the midfielder delivered at a time CdM needed him to after suffering its first league loss Wednesday.

It took the Sea Kings (7-7-2, 3-1-0 in league) some time to get over the 2-1 defeat at Irvine. They battled the wind in the first half, limiting the scoring opportunities. Once play resumed, Mitchell broke the scoreless tie.

Seconds before Antonelli warned his defense about the Williams brothers. He even barked at a couple of defenders after getting his hands on a loose ball.

“Let me get it!” yelled Antonelli, shortly afterward Mitchell quieted Antonelli.

Teammate Paolo Iaccarino fed Mitchell a pass near the box, where Mitchell nailed a shot finding the left side of the net to put CdM up, 1-0, in the 50th minute. The Sea Kings continued to pressure University (0-3 in league), earning them back-to-back corner kicks in the next six minutes.

The attack forced University to commit a foul just outside the box at the 60th minute. Mitchell took the direct free kick, bending it around the wall and hitting the near post to give CdM a 2-0 lead.

“We needed that win to bounce back from that [Irvine] loss,” said CdM Coach Pat Callaghan, adding that Irvine had outplayed his team. “I think we’re in good shape. I think we’ll do really well in the second half [of league play] and get ourselves ready for the playoffs.”

The Sea Kings are playing strong, just as they did late last season en route to reaching the CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinals.

Four more league matches before CdM learns of its postseason future. Next is a Wednesday league match at Beckman, a team Corona del Mar blanked, 2-0.

This was the second league shutout for the Sea Kings, much of it because of the contributions of two new faces, junior goalkeeper Zak Maurer-Erickson and freshman sweeper Brian Ford.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.