Girls soccer: CdM aims for PCL three-peat

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - The bar for success in Corona del Mar High girls

soccer is at an all-time high. However, reaching the bar this year will

definitely be a challenge as the Sea Kings seek their third straight

Pacific Coast League title.

Goalie Britta Vogele, a first team All-CIF and All-PCL selection, is

now at Iowa, while Molly O’Meara, who also garnered first-team All-CIF

and all-league status, Margit Vogele, a first-team all-league member, and

Jaycee Mahler, a second-team all-league player, are all gone.

In addition, junior Elisha Morgan, a two-time first-team All-CIF and

all-league selection, underwent knee surgery Tuesday and is expected to

return in mid-January. She injured her knee three weeks ago in a club

soccer game. And to stack more odds against the Sea Kings, junior Olivia

Mazura will be out two to five weeks after dislocating her shoulder and

injuring her rotator cuff during a 2-1 loss to Santa Margarita Tuesday.

Then you have senior Allison Harvey, last year’s PCL co-Most Valuable

Player, who is playing despite injuries.

“We’ve got some big games, and we’ll see what we’re made of,” CdM

Coach Ron Evans said of his 4-2 Sea Kings. “The girls are rising to the

occasion. We’re battlers. We’re going to be just fine.”

Evans’ optimism comes from the fact the Sea Kings played well against

highly regarded teams. They lost in the final moments to Santa Margarita,

a team ranked No. 2 in the nation by Studentsports.com. CdM also held its

own against Aliso Niguel, ranked No. 1 in the nation by the same

organization.

“Coming off a dream season last year, that’s a tough season to match,”

Evans said of last year’s PCL champions who went unbeaten in league and

made a Division IV semifinal appearance. The Sea Kings, who earned a

26-2-3 record last year, completed a 26-game unbeaten streak before

losing to Harvard-Westlake, 2-1, in sudden death overtime.

“One of our strengths was our team camaraderie,” Evans said. “I hope

we carried that from last season to this year. We have some tough some

challenges with our schedule. I did that on purpose to get prepared for

the best.”

Evans has been impressed with freshman goalie Rachel Waters and junior

Paige Janes, who has “just been remarkable at sweeper.” Janes earned

third-team All-CIF and second-team all-league recognition last year.

Junior Lauren Shepherdson, a third-team All-CIF and second-team

all-league selection, adds support to the Sea Kings’ quest for a PCL

three-peat, as does junior Jenny Long, a second-team all-league performer

last year.

“The PCL is a tough little league; it’s underrated,” Evans said.

“Northwood really came on strong last year. They have an incredible

coaching staff there. Laguna Beach has Shannon Cobb returning. I think

she’s the best goalkeeper in the league. They’re going to be a

challenging squad. Costa Mesa gave us all we could handle last year.

They’re still going to be another contender. (The Sea Kings) know the

challenge ahead of them. They know what’s expected.”

CdM will play in the Bonita Tournament Saturday, and will face Bonita

at 9:30 a.m. The Sea Kings will also travel up north for a tournament

during the Christmas break and will face Carondolet, and other highly

regarded teams.

CORONA DEL MAR HIGH GIRLS SOCCER

Rachel Waters Fr.

Olivia Mazura Jr.

Paige Janes Jr.

Lauren Loe Jr.

Tanisha Fenterande Fr.

Kristen Hanson Sr.

Lauren Shepherdson Jr.

Jenny Long Jr.

Allison Brawner Sr.

Kinzie Kramer So.

Trisha Doran Jr.

Stephanie Hardison Sr.

Elisha Morgan Jr.

Allison Harvey Sr.

Jacqueline Thayer Sr.

Breanne Ogden Fr.

Coach: Ron Evans