Sea Kings are back together

With its midfield solidified for the first time this season, Corona del Mar tops University in a Pacific Coast League opener that gets physical in the second half.NEWPORT BEACH -- The Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team claimed a 4-1 victory over a flat University team Tuesday.

Although it was only the Sea Kings’ second win, it could set the tone for the rest of the season as the team’s Pacific Coast League opener.

“We don’t have the record we want, but I think that our team played as well as we have in the past two or three weeks, and I appreciate that,” said Corona del Mar Coach Pat Callaghan. “Hopefully this win is a microcosm for the rest of the season.”

The Sea Kings, playing for the first time all season with Jon Udahsev, Brian Burke and Allan Hardison in the midfield, jumped to a quick start.

Hardison and Udahsev each had a shot on goal in the first minute of play.

“This was really their first game playing together,” said Callaghan. “Over the last four games, we were really exposed in our midfield. But this is a process.

“Hardison really solidified our midfield and brought some quality distance. And Mitch [Williams] and Gino [Ferrara] understand soccer and bring control. Today our entire team played together.”

After six shots on goal, the Sea Kings led, 2-0, in the first half. Dan Schiefer sped through the Trojans defense and scored in the 15th minute and Ferrara added another goal in the 28th minute. Both goals were tough ones, as Schiefer and Ferrara dealt with the sun’s glare.

The closest University came was in the 37th minute, after a penalty kick bounced out of bounds after hitting the goal post. The Trojans had their opportunities to score, breaking away from Corona del Mar defenders several times and firing shots at the right corner of the goal, but Sea Kings’ goalkeeper Diego Castillo and the rest of the Corona del Mar defense maintained the first half shutout.

“I don’t think we even came to compete,” said University Coach Ryan Hopkins. “They played much more physical than us, and we didn’t get it done. We have another battle with Tesoro coming up. It’s league now and we can’t afford that. It just didn’t happen for us today.”

The home crowd grew restless in the second half as the play got physical, without much in the way of intervention from the officials.

“That’s just our luck,” said Ferrara, who finished with three goals.

Callaghan said the calls had nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with the referees’ attempt to stop the physical contact.

“So I think those calls were based on our reckless play early on,” said Callaghan. “They wanted to stop it.”

In the second half, Corona del Mar’s quick passes and ball control created more shot opportunities.

One minute into the half, Peter Stemler and Udahsev’s shots both missed by inches.

University got on the scoreboard in the 62nd minute after a free kick landed in a crowd of blue and white jerseys. The ball ended up with Daniel Chu, who put the ball away for the Trojans.

The Sea Kings answered quickly, with Ferrara scoring his second and third goal seconds apart to provide the final margin.

“I’m very satisfied,” said Callaghan. “Our [nonleague] schedule was tough, so the guys were discouraged and a little down, but today we started well. We got an early lead and had a very sound midfield. We really came together. We looked good.”

Ferrara added: “We knew we all had to cover our players and that’s what we did. We knew what we had been doing wrong, so we got organized. We had great defense and we put it away. If the rest of our season is like this, it’ll be good.”

Corona del Mar faces its next league challenge Friday against visiting Calvary Chapel Santa Ana.

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 4, University 1

Score by Halves