Case comes back strong

A fractured back kept Mason Case out of action for most of his sophomore season at Corona del Mar High.

A bad back only kept Case out of practice for most of his junior season.

Who says you need to practice to perform at a high level in boys’ soccer matches? Coach George Larsen stopped saying that to Case this past season.

Larsen said at no point was Case 100%. Case’s back hurt, but he still carried the Sea Kings’ offense on his back, helping him earn the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year award.

Nineteen goals is how many Case scored this season. He contributed eight assists, playing a role in almost half of the team’s 57 goals.

The Sea Kings needed the production by Case after they lost two standouts after one match in December. Five matches into the season, Jack McBean and Matt Francini left because of club commitments.

Case just recommitted himself to the Sea Kings. They needed a striker with McBean gone. Case moved up from midfield and filled those cleats quite admirably.

Case turned into one of the top goal scorers in Orange County, finishing with the third most goals. The Sea Kings were unable to repeat as Pacific Coast League champions. But it was Case, who had CdM (16-3-7, 6-2-2 in league) one match away from playing for a second straight CIF Southern Section title.

Down the stretch, when Case’s back worsened, he performed at his best. Twice in the Division III playoffs, he notched game-winning goals.

The second one came in the worst soccer conditions Case experienced this season. It was wet. It was windy. Case and the Sea Kings were 200 miles away from home.

Case made that bus ride home from Santa Maria a lot smoother. He scored on a volley in the 60th minute, lifting CdM to a 1-0 quarterfinal win.

Case felt awfully good. The Sea Kings were on their way to the semifinals and he was a big reason why. The previous season, he made his way back to the team late in the season and did not contribute as much after dealing with a fractured back.

The back pain has never really gone away, but Case toughed it out and played on this season. The Sea Kings fell short of reaching the section title match, as they lost on the road to eventual champion Paramount, 2-1.

The outing was not Case’s best. Larsen challenged him at halftime, but it had nothing to do with effort. Case gave it his all.

“He never made any excuses,” Larsen said. “We would love to see him play pain free next season.”

If that happens, Larsen expects Case to come back stronger and better.

The following is the rest of the players on the Dream Team, starting from defense to offense:

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Connor Gaal

Corona del Mar

Junior goalkeeper used his athleticism, 6-foot-2 frame and instincts to help the Sea Kings hold the opposition scoreless 11 times. He allowed 18 goals in 21 matches. Gaal recorded eight shutouts, two coming in the first round and the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.

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Greg Allen

Corona del Mar

Junior sweeper played a vital role to the Sea Kings allowing only 23 goals in 26 matches. He has been the glue to the defense the past two seasons in which CdM has dropped a combined four matches. Allen earned first-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.

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Jack Gorab

Corona del Mar

Junior defender delivered balls on set pieces that usually resulted in great scoring chances for teammates. Gorab was one of the more versatile players in Orange County. He bounced back after suffering a concussion and finished with nine assists and three goals. Gorab earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.

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Colton Gyulay

Sage Hill

Senior defender helped the Lightning return to the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs. He finished with a team-best 10 goals and 11 assists, two coming in Sage Hill’s must-win situation in the Academy League finale to qualify for the postseason. Gyulay earned first-team All-Academy League honors.

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Kjell Wolker

Corona del Mar

Senior defender bolstered the Sea Kings in the back. One of his best performances came in rainy and windy conditions in CdM’s 1-0 victory at Santa Maria in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs. He finished with two goals and three assists. Wolker earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.

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Brian Ford

Corona del Mar

Senior midfielder won most balls in the air with his athleticism and physical play. The UC Davis-bound Ford finished with 11 goals and five assists. He converted two penalty kicks in the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs. Ford earned first-team All-Pacific Coast League and first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division III honors.

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Dong-Gi Shin

Costa Mesa

Senior midfielder led the Mustangs to their first CIF Southern Section playoff appearance in nine seasons. He scored in Costa Mesa’s 4-3 victory against Muir of Pasadena in the Division IV wild-card round. The Korean-born player finished with a team-best 11 goals and eight assists. Shin earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

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Caleb Candelaria

Newport Harbor

Junior midfielder turned out to be the top player on a young Sailors team. He kept Newport Harbor competitive in the robust Sunset League, which sent four teams to the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. He finished with five goals and four assists. Candelaria earned first-team All-Sunset League honors.

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Jesus Estrada

Costa Mesa

Senior midfielder was instrumental in turning the Mustangs into a competitive team the last two seasons. The Mustangs won seven Orange Coast league matches with Estrada and none without him in 2008-09. He finished with a team-best 10 assists and contributed five goals. Estrada earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

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Jorge Sanchez

Costa Mesa

Junior striker turned it on down the stretch for the Mustangs, recording seven goals and two assists in the final 10 matches of the season. Sanchez scored twice in Costa Mesa’s 4-3 victory against Muir of Pasadena in the CIF Southern Section Division IV wild-card round. Sanchez earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.