SOUTHERN SECTION 1-A SOCCER PLAYOFFS : Newport Harbor Scores Early, Wins

NEWPORT BEACH — The trademark of the Newport Harbor High School boys’ soccer team is defense, but the Sailors got offensive Tuesday in their Southern Section 1-A Division semifinal playoff game against rival Corona del Mar.

Newport Harbor stunned Corona del Mar by scoring two goals in the opening 15 minutes and went on to a 3-1 victory in front of 300 fans at Davidson Field.

The victory advances Newport Harbor (16-4-7) to the championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday against Corona Centennial at Gahr High. Centennial advanced with a 4-3 victory over Saddleback.

Junior forward Brannon Colluccio took a pass from teammate Joey Perez near the right corner of Corona del Mar’s goal less than five minutes into the game and squibbed in a short kick for a 1-0 lead.

The teams had met three times previously, splitting 1-0 victories and playing to a scoreless tie in their last match. But Newport Harbor extended its lead to 2-0 about 15 minutes later when Brice Rose scored from 15 yards out.

“I told you this was going to be a wide-open game today,” said Alan Payne, Newport Harbor coach. “We opened things up from the back with some good passes. Sooner or later, we were bound to score if we got the right passes.

“I thought it was very important to score early. All season long, we’ve been getting one here or one there from somebody different. Today, I thought everybody played well.”

Goalies Josh Klein and Mike Hancock combined for 12 saves but Corona del Mar (17-7-1) managed to avoid a shutout late in the second half when Justin Pierce emerged from a pileup in front of Newport Harbor’s goal and scored past a diving Hancock.

Shane Perluss had given Newport Harbor a 3-0 lead earlier in the half when he scored from 20 yards out into the left corner past Corona del Mar goalie Travis Grant.

Corona del Mar Coach Martin McGrogan blamed his team’s poor defense for the loss.

“Defensive lapses more than anything else cost us the game,” McGrogan said. “That early first goal wasn’t the best way to get started. Newport got the momentum . . . and we couldn’t catch up.”