CdM on course to face Sailors

CORONA DEL MAR — With 4:33 left in the third quarter and the score tied at 3-3, Foothill High Coach Jim Brumm called timeout.

But it was Corona del Mar Coach Barry O’Dea who had plenty to say to his players.

“We need a little sense of urgency,” O’Dea said.

Senior R.J. Baldoni was listening.

Out of the timeout, Baldoni stole the ball near mid-pool and went on to score, helping lift the Sea Kings to a 9-7 win in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs.

“He was fiddling with it, and I just went in and turned him,” Baldoni said of the defender covering him. “He went for the foul, but I put my hands up, turned him and grabbed it. It was important, because it gave us the lead.”

CdM’s Mike Berry added two of his team-high three goals in the next two minutes. One came on a long pass from goalie Brian Peotter, and one on a steal and score with the Sea Kings a man down.

CdM was up 7-4 after three quarters, but the Knights pulled within a goal when Clayton McFadden scored on a six-on-five with 1:57 left.

But the Sea Kings immediately responded, as Nick Jones scored with four seconds left on the shot clock on a pass from Baldoni. The goal, with 1:26 left in the game, gave CdM a 9-7 lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.

CdM plays host to Back Bay rival Newport Harbor on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. in a quarterfinal matchup.

“The guys are playing like they want to win,” O’Dea said. “We reminded them that it was ‘one and done’ if they lose here, and they stepped up in the second half.”

Neither team had a lead of more than a goal in the first half. Berry scored with the shot clock about to expire with 2:05 left in the first quarter, then Ryan Kent’s six-on-five goal made it 2-2 with 2:39 left in the half.

Foothill went ahead on its next possession, but good passing from Berry to Kent to Ryan Hultman netted an equalizer with 42 seconds left in the half.

“We knew they could beat us,” Hultman said. “But we knew if we played our game, that we would win. It was just about executing. It was a good team win for us.”

O’Dea said the Sea Kings were excited about playing Newport Harbor again, giving CdM a chance to avenge a 13-12 CIF semifinal loss a year ago.

The Sailors were also victorious on Oct. 21, 7-4.

“They’re a great team, and they’re playing better ball than we are, going into the playoffs,” O’Dea said. “But we’re looking forward to it. It’s always fun to see CdM and Newport play in the playoffs. There’s a lot of history there.”

CIF Division I

First round

Corona del Mar 9, Foothill 7

Score by Quarters

Foothill 1 2 1 3 — 7 CdM 1 2 4 2 — 9

Foothill -- Pickell 3, Verloop 2, Hooper 1, McFadden 1. Saves -- Lovero 10.

Corona del Mar -- Berry 3, Kent 2, Hultman 2, Baldoni 1, Jones 1. Saves -- Peotter 8.