Girls soccer: Sea Kings tune up for Mesa

CORONA DEL MAR - Neither the start of finals week, nor the looming

anticipation of today’s 3:15 p.m. first-place Pacific Coast League

first-place showdown with Costa Mesa High managed to distract the Corona

del Mar girls soccer team from the task at hand Monday.

Coach Ron Evans’ Sea Kings, ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section

Division IV, improved to 18-1-2, 4-0-0 in league, by trouncing PCL

visitor Northwood, 6-0, in a game rescheduled to make up a Jan. 12

rainout.

Allison Harvey had three goals to pace CdM, which extended its

unbeaten streak to 17 contests, including 15 victories.

Iowa-bound senior goalie Britta Vogele made two saves to preserve the

shutout.

In addition to Harvey, CdM’s offense was sparked by Kristin Hanson

(two goals and one assist), Molly O’Meara (one goal and an assist) and

Lauren Shepardson (three assists).

“We weren’t even thinking about (today),” Evans said. “These girls

have done a good job of focusing on each game and that was the case

(Monday). Normally, we talk after the game, but today, I just let them go

home to study (for finals) and get some sleep.”

Either CdM or Mesa, barring a tie, will go to sleep tonight with the

inside track on the PCL title.

Coach Dan Johnston’s Mustangs are 11-3-3, 3-0-0, after having their

confidence bolstered by a victory over Sunny Hills, ranked 10th in Orange

County at the time, in Saturday’s Katella Tournament semifinals.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 5 in CIF Division IV, enter as a legitimate

underdog, according to both coaches.

“Corona del Mar has it all and it’s absolutely deserving of its

ranking,” Johnston said. “We’re the underdog, but we are a dangerous

team, as Sunny Hills found out Saturday.”

Said Evans, “(The Mustangs) are very aggressive on defense and they

don’t give up many opportunities. But we’ve worked a lot on our set

(plays, such as free kicks and corner kicks) and I’d be willing to bet

they’re going to have a tough time shutting down our set pieces.”

Mesa is led by sophomore sensation Sharon Day, whose 19 goals are a

school single-season record. She had 14 as a freshman. Senior sweeper

Katie Roche has also been a defensive stalwart, as has stopper Mae

Powers.

“We’ll focus on shutting down Sharon Day,” Evans said.

Said Johnston, “(Day) has been seeing double- and triple-teams all

season, but it hasn’t hurt her production much.”

Johnston believes stopping CdM’s offense will be the key in the

biggest game in the Mesa program’s history.

“Both teams play great defense, but Corona’s had a little better

offensive output,” Johnston said. “So, if we can blunt their attack, who

knows what’s going to happen.”