CdM boys’ soccer pulls off another comeback win in Aliso Cup

For the second straight time in the Aliso Cup, the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team faced adversity.

In their first match of the season against Los Alamitos, the Sea Kings had to rally down two goals twice to pull out a 4-3 victory and stun the Griffins on the road Monday.

CdM continued the comeback theme on Friday when it played host to Laguna Hills.

Nicholas Wynn scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time, lifting the Sea Kings to a 2-1 win.

“I love the level of enthusiasm that they’re bringing to this year, how committed and bought in they are to competing for their team, and showing each other that they want to be a part of it,” CdM coach George Larsen said.

CdM had a handful of opportunities in the first half, but failed to convert.

The Sea Kings’ best chances were created by the always-active Kyle Mabwa. He weaved through Laguna Hills’ defenders on the right side of the field looking to connect with teammates inside the box.

Laguna Hills nearly scored right before the end of the first half on a free kick that sailed just wide of the left post.

After the scoreless first half, Laguna Hills (0-2) was able to withstand the aggression CdM displayed out of the break and used it to its advantage. Laguna Hills’ Liam Cummings linked up with Marcus Daniels on a fastbreak opportunity and capitalized to gain the 1-0 advantage in the 51st minute.

The equalizer came in the 65th minute when CdM birthday boy Niko Urban beat two defenders and finessed a shot that curled to the top left of the net.

“I saw that their defender was weak on the right side, so I finally decided to take him on and [I] shot it to the upper-left corner,” Urban said. “It’s a good birthday present.”

The game-winning goal would come in stoppage time. Wynn, a midfielder, found a ball that ricocheted from a cross inside by Mabwa, and he put it past the Laguna Hills goalkeeper on a side volley.

“Soccer-wise, we want to keep improving,” Larsen said. “But what I do like at the start of the season is collecting boys from all sorts of teams, clubs, and age groups, and now we’re trying to make a team like we do every high school season and I love what they’re bring.”

JUAN CARLOS GONZALEZ is a contributor to Times Community News: Follow him on Twitter: @JGonzalezSports