Boys’ Soccer: Sea Kings rally for win over Estancia

The beautiful game now has a beautiful grass field at Corona del Mar High.

Coach George Larsen said he’s glad he finally scheduled some nonleague boys’ soccer matches at CdM. In the past, his Sea Kings played mostly on the road in the month of December because of the field’s shoddy conditions.

“[We] used to be a little bit embarrassed to host games,” Larsen said. “For the last seven years, I would schedule all of my preseason games away just to preserve the field. We didn’t want to [wear] it out and [we wanted to] actually have something to play on for league.

“The school did a great job of renovating the field and [it] put some good money into it, and actually got it right. It’s been nice to play on this field. We’re kind of proud to host this year.”

The Sea Kings are enjoying their new field and the amount of success they are having on it.

The Sea Kings stayed unbeaten at home, coming back to earn a 3-2 win against Estancia on Wednesday. Grant Joyce scored the game-winner in the 56th minute, and CdM improve to 3-0-1 at home.

The Sea Kings (5-1-2) twice overcame one-goal deficits in the second half, and they pulled it off with three key players out with injuries. Larsen said midfielder Will O’Connor (groin), striker Kyle Mabwa (finger) and defender Rhyan Phan (staph infection) were unavailable in the matchup with the No. 8-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 poll.

The Eagles (3-3-1) took a 1-0 lead 11 minutes in, as Rafael Espinoza scored. Then Estancia helped CdM’s cause early in the second half with an own goal that allowed the Sea Kings to tie it at 1-1.

“[We were] a little bit of fortunate with the deflection with the first goal, but it came off that dribble penetration, getting in and breaking down their back line,” Larsen said.

The Sea Kings fell behind again in the 46th minute, on a goal by Sergio Gutierrez. Seven minutes later, CdM responded, and Joyce was involved in evening things up.

Joyce’s corner kick found the head of teammate Matt Katz, who made it 2-2. The goal was one of two during a three-minute span by CdM, which took its first lead when an Estancia defender flicked Brandon Cargile’s long throw-in toward the far post to Joyce. All alone, Joyce put away his sixth goal of the season with his left foot.

The lead held up, with the help of goalkeeper Christopher Bartolic and center back Andrea Pregoni. Estancia had chances in the second half, but Bartolic stopped a shot near the post and punched one up in the air during a corner kick.

Pregoni slowed down the Eagles’ attack, which was missing forward Andy Martinez (knee). With Martinez out, Coach Robert Castellano moved up Miguel Pena, a defender, and the sophomore played well.

Castellano said Martinez would be out for at least another week. The Eagles look to bounce back on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., when they open with Katella in the North Orange County Classic at Jim Scott Stadium.

Next for CdM is another home date, the Battle of the Bay rivalry match with Newport Harbor on Friday at 3:15 p.m. With possible heavy showers, the field conditions could stop the contest from happening.

“With the new field, I don’t know if it rains a ton Thursday night [that it can hold up],” Larsen said. “We might push it back a week.”