Boys’ Soccer: CdM persistent in win

It would be easy to say that one goal was all that the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team needed to beat rival Newport Harbor. But there was so much more the Sea Kings did to take down the Sailors.

Newport Harbor came close to tying the score, but CdM did more than enough to hold on for the 1-0 win in the Battle of the Bay Friday night.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Newport Harbor. But the rain forced the game out of Davidson Field and into Jim Scott Stadium.

The decision was made Thursday night.

Both teams were rather quick on the artificial turf. Like most Battle of the Bay matchups it ended up being an intense battle for each ball.

“That was a lot of fun,” CdM Coach George Larsen said. “Battle of the Bay in this area is a big deal. This is what high school soccer is all about. Every single ball for 80 minutes was heavily contested and fought for. We had chances. They had chances. It went back and forth. It just took that extra effort.”

The Sea Kings (2-0-1) found their game-winning goal in the 12th minute. That effort typified CdM’s play through most of the match.

Evan Schwartz scored and described it as a “persistent goal.”

Kyle Martin shot at the net but Newport Harbor goalie Victor Negrete blocked it. Schwartz headed the ball, but it bounced off the crossbar. Schwartz tried again, this time with a shoulder to bump the ball in for a goal.

Persistent, indeed.

“George said we would get opportunities like that and we would need to be persistent,” said Schwartz, who scored his second goal of the season.

The Sea Kings defense also turned in a solid effort for the shutout. Goalie Gavin Allen led the way, with help from Will Hunter, Ryan Pham, Brennan Houston and Spencer Mamatas on defense.

Newport Harbor (1-2) set up a few chances, but the defense either stepped up or the Sailors made a mistake.

After losing to a second team from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District this week, Newport Harbor Coach Juan Mares said there would be changes coming.

“The recipe isn’t working,” he said.

Earlier this week, Newport Harbor fell to Estancia, 2-0. In that game as well, the Sailors had plenty of chances but could not come away with a goal.

Fortunately for the Sailors, they know there is an opprotunity to improve because it is early in the season.

“What we have right now is a bit of a writer’s block,” Mares said. “We just can’t get over that hurdle. We needed one goal. Once we get that one goal we can get things rolling.”