Boys soccer: Callaghan hopes to toughen up CdM squad

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - New coach, new attitude.

Returning to the Corona del Mar High boys soccer program is Coach Pat

Callaghan, who looks to bring not only a fresh face to the sideline, but

a tougher style of play.

Callaghan, who played at CdM in the late 1980s, was the Sea View

League’s Most Valuable Player in 1989 and, later that year, helped guide

Orange Coast College to a state championship.

“We have a good, young team with some good basic skills,” Callaghan

said. “I’m going to try to add a little more physical brand of soccer to

their skills so we can play to the physical level of any team.”

Last year’s Sea Kings were runners-up in the Pacific Coast League with

a 10-7-1 record. They were eliminated in the first round of the CIF

Southern Section Division IV playoffs by Diamond Ranch, 0-0 (2-0 on

penalty kicks).

Leading the offense for CdM is senior Danny Marshall. He is the lone

All-PCL selection back from last year’s senior-heavy squad.

“Danny brings a very strong offensive presense to our team,” Callaghan

said. “He’s got a ton of raw talent and he is very strong in the air,

which we will try to use to our advantage.”

Junior Andy Almquist comes over from the basketball program to play

sweeper for Callaghan. “Our focus on Andy is to be a strong defensive

presense for us,” he said.

Senior Mike Palazzola returns as a strong midfield player. “He’s a big

kid with good skills and good control out there,” Callaghan said. “He’s

going to be one of our playmakers and his play will spark our offense.”

In goal, Geoff Collier, who was strong for the Sea Kings in their

season-opening 2-0 loss to El Toro, will be CdM’s last line of defense,

something Callaghan is excited about.

“He’s another player with a ton of raw talent,” Callaghan said. “He

came up huge for us against El Toro and his skills are unlimited.”

Overall, Callaghan sees his squad’s lack of height as a disadvantage,

but the Sea Kings have an abundance of speed.

“We’re going to have to play the ball and control the ball on the

ground,” Callaghan said. “Balls in the air will be tough for us to get,

so we’ll depend on our skill and quickness to get the upper hand.”

CORONA DEL MAR BOYS SOCCER

00 Geoffrey Collier Jr.

2 Brandon Zarian So.

4 Blake Dillion So.

5 Julien Cerutti Fr.

6 Brandon Fenno Sr.

7 Danny Marshall Sr.

10 Michael Palazzola Sr.

11 Andy Almquist Jr.

13 Tristan Harris So.

14 Aldo Bautista Jr.

15 Geoffrey Leech Jr.

23 Michael Whitaker Sr.

Scott Baker Sr.

Shogo Fujii Jr.

Brett Luchesi Jr.

Spencer MacDonald Jr.

Anthony Samson Sr.

Danny Whitaker Fr.

Jon-Luke Del Fante Sr.

Coach: Pat Callaghan