Sea Kings stock up

Bryce Alderton

Second-year coach Bryan Middleton decided to carry 20 players on the

Corona del Mar High girls soccer team this season, five more than

last year, to develop talent that will hopefully carry into the

future.

The Sea Kings return eight from a team that went 12-6-2 and

reached the CIF Southern Section Division II quarterfinals last year.

Four members off of that team signed scholarships to play collegiate

soccer and include Lauren Shepherdson and Paige Janes (both at USC),

while Elisha Morgan, a four-time All-CIF honoree, is attending UC

Santa Barbara while Alivia Mazura moved on to UC Berkeley. Mazura and

Janes were both selected to the All-CIF Division II first-team a year

ago.

“Last year we had a strong senior class, so I this year I decided

to take on a larger number of players to develop them for varsity

this year and next year,” Middleton said.

Forward Brook Burgner and sweeper Kinzie Kramer are the two

returning starters. Kramer has been named captain and takes Janes’

former spot at sweeper.

Sophomore forward Rachel Yelsey, midfielders Kelly Morgan and

Jessica Mazura and junior defenders Tanisha Senaratne and Vanessa

Fallon, along with sophomore Taylor Fallon, all return from last

year’s team that finished second to Northwood in the Pacific Coast

League. The Sea Kings had claimed three consecutive PCL titles until

last year.

Seniors Elizabeth Almaraz, who saw action late last season,

Courtney Carnahan and Michelle Querel, juniors Amanda Stockstill,

Jessica Gianotti, Katie Schiesser and Samantha Price, sophomores

Lindsey Manning, Phoebe Chang and Hannah Rollins, along with freshmen

Alex Tobiesson and Ali Torres, give Middleton a variety of weapons to

use.

Schiesser started in goal when CdM opened its season Monday

against Mater Dei, which won, 4-1. Rachel Waters, the team’s

goalkeeper last season, reportedly transferred to a school in

Colorado, Middleton said.

Middleton expects the defense to be the team’s strength, but the

onus will be on receiving contributions from everyone.

“We will not rely on one individual player,” Middleton said. “All

will have a hand in our success. The question from game to game will

be, ‘Which player will step up?’”

The Sea Kings believe they can regain the PCL title, but figure to

receive stiff competition from defending champion Northwood and

University.

Northwood edged CdM, 3-2, in the final league game of the season,

to win the PCL by one game.

Middleton said no talk has surfaced about that game.

“The third to last game we lost to University, so that was

crucial,” Middleton said. “It is definitely going to be a more

challenging year, but I have a full roster of individuals who have

equal talent and ability. It will be a fun challenge.”