Hedrick, Sailors shut out CdM

Senior goalkeeper comes up big in Battle of the Bay, allowing Newport Harbor to take bell trophy back from Sea Kings.CORONA DEL MAR -- Newport Harbor High goalkeeper Carson Hedrick remembers vividly losing to Corona del Mar last year and giving up the trophy bell on the line every time the Back Bay rivals meet in boys’ soccer. It was a bad feeling Hedrick did not want to revisit.

The senior goalkeeper made 10 saves -- including several on shots inside the 18-yard box -- as the Sailors emerged with a 1-0 victory over the Sea Kings at Corona del Mar High on Friday.

Hedrick was the first one to Corona del Mar’s bench to retrieve the bell and share it with his team.

“That was the best game of my life,” Hedrick said. “This is my senior year, I wanted it bad. We gave up the bell last year -- winning it back my senior year -- there’s nothing like it.”

The bell has switched hands four straight years, but Newport Harbor has the edge this decade, 4-2.

“When it comes down to these two teams, it doesn’t matter who’s good and who’s not,” Newport Harbor Coach Ryan Hernandez said. “It’s just always going to be a battle.”

The Sea Kings fired 21 shots and kept possession of the ball for most of the game, but the Sailors took advantage of one of their few first half opportunities.

Will Trujillo made a run down the middle of the field, and sent a pass down the left side to Brian Simiensma, who had gotten behind the defense. Simiensma scored with his left foot from just inside the box to give the Sailors a 1-0 lead nearly halfway through the first half.

The Sailors (4-2) almost scored again when John Zimmerman took a pass from Trujillo in the box and shot the ball just wide.

The Sea Kings dominated the rest of the half, but each of their scoring opportunities were turned back.

Junior Jon Udahsev was CdM’s hard-luck player. Udahsev had six quality scoring opportunities in the first half, but his shots either missed the mark or were saved by Hedrick. Late in the first half, Udahsev’s corner kick slid through the crowd to Brian Burke, whose shot toward the near post was saved by a sliding Hedrick.

Early in the second half, Hedrick sent a booming kick to CdM’s box and nearly earned an assist, but Simiensma -- who gathered the high bouncer -- shot just wide.

Before long, the Sea Kings were on the offensive again. Newport’s Travis Mayfield almost had an own goal when he tried to clear the box with a header that went awry, but Hedrick was there to make the save.

A run down the middle of the field by Burke led to a scoring chance for Hardison, but the junior forward’s shot from point blank range was deflected out by Hedrick.

Hardison had several scoring opportunities from in close, but not without Mayfield getting in the way and hindering his shots.

“I was expecting a lot of shots from Hardison,” Hedrick said. “And I got them. But having Travis marking him was a big key for us.”

Hedrick also saw a lot of shots from Udahsev, including the last one on a free kick from 25 yards out.

“He was the man of the match,” Hernandez said.

Kyle Schneekluth led the defensive effort for CdM (1-3-1), which allowed just nine shots.

“He did a great job winning balls in the back and playing aggressive defense,” CdM Coach Pat Callaghan said.

Despite the loss, Callaghan was pleased with the way his team played.

“After the first 15 minutes, we dominated the game,” he said. “I’m proud of the guys. This is a great game to build off of.”

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 1, Corona del Mar 0

Score by Quarters