CdM earns 2-2 draw at Beckman, stays in first place in league

Call it a farewell tour for the Corona del Mar High girls’ soccer team, but Beckman didn’t exactly want to be a gracious host when the Sea Kings and Patriots met Thursday afternoon in a Pacific Coast League game.

It was the last time the teams will play before CdM moves to the Sunset League next season, and the Sea Kings faced adversity. Three CdM players — senior captain Ava McKenzie, junior Katharine Caston and sophomore Alex Ianni — earned yellow cards in the final 10 minutes of the chippy contest.

Earlier in the second half, CdM coach Bryan Middleton found his team down two goals. He became irked that no Beckman substitutes were going to retrieve balls that had exited the field behind the goal.

“They’re supposed to provide ball runners,” Middleton complained to the assistant referee.

“Call the CIF office,” she quickly replied.

Middleton was feeling better by the end of the match. He wants CdM to exit the Pacific Coast League with its second straight title, and the Sea Kings took a step toward that after rallying for a 2-2 tie.

Seniors Ashley Maloney and Elizabeth Lamie scored in the second half, each one assisted by McKenzie, as CdM improved to 4-0-2 in league (10 points). The Sea Kings stayed two games ahead of Beckman, which is 2-2-2 in league, with four remaining.

Northwood (4-2 in league) is in second place in league, followed by University (3-3), which is tied with Beckman for third place with six points each.

“All these teams, they’re going to take their best shot because it’s the last time they get to play us,” said Middleton, whose Sea Kings are 10-2-5 overall and ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division 2. “I can’t see myself scheduling any of them [in the] preseason in the future, and we’re not going to be in a league with them.”

CdM appeared on the ropes in the first half Thursday. Beckman junior Lauren Drysdale scored a header goal in the 17th minute after a long free kick from Rachel Palajac. Eight minutes later, it was Lindsey Cho finishing off a cross from the right from Drysdale.

The Sea Kings, who had allowed four goals in a 4-4 tie at Woodbridge on Tuesday, were on pace to do it again at halftime. CdM has been without sophomore starting goalkeeper Giovanna Broderick (sprained ankle) the last three games, with senior Shannon Duss starting in her place. Duss made five saves against Beckman.

“The second half, she positioned herself better on balls, and she was more aggressive,” Middleton said. “We’re just adapting. One thing our team hasn’t done this year is hang their head after we’ve gone down a goal or a couple of goals. We’ve always fought back.”

McKenzie helped CdM get back on track. In the 53rd minute, her cross from the right went to Maloney, who finished right in the middle of the box. Then, in the 62nd minute, McKenzie had a cross in from the left. The ball brushed by CdM sophomore Megan Chelf in the box to Lamie, who buried it into the back of the net.

“The effort and the physical play in the second half was so much improved,” McKenzie said. “Going down 2-0, I still knew we had it if we could stay composed.”

The Sea Kings survived a scary final minute.

Beckman senior striker Jessica Ruggieri was sprinting down the left side of the field before she was fouled from behind by Ianni. The ensuing free kick from Samantha Ree came from just eight yards out, and the Patriots thought they had scored the winning goal just before the final whistle as Gillian Ortin put it in. But Ortin, who collided with Duss on the play, was whistled for interference.

“CdM does a really good job going forward with [its] attacking players, mixing [its] runs up,” Beckman coach Gordon Scott said. “Definitely a great game. I’m proud of my girls. We’re still unbeaten here at Beckman in league over the last two years.”

The Sea Kings will take being unbeaten in league this season overall, as Middleton goes for his seventh league title in his 16-year tenure with the program. CdM plays host to University on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.

matthew.szabo@latimes.com

Twitter: @mjszabo