CdM takes down giant

DOWNEY — This game, like this season for the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team, was about rarefied air.

Conceptually, the term refers to an unprecedented run of success that included the program’s first CIF Southern Section title (in Division IV). It extended to Saturday’s CIF Southern California Regional Division II final against previously unbeaten Santa Barbara at Warren High.

Specifically, the rarefied air meant the space above arm’s reach, where even the most heady player loses out to the one who can elevate the highest and strike the ball with his head.

“We knew we had some size [advantages] in the box that we wanted to capitalize on and we were able to do that a little bit,” CdM Coach George Larsen said.

Larsen saw 6-foot-2 senior striker Reed Williams elevate over defenders draped on his chest and back to head Alex Mainthow’s long throw-in into the opposite corner of the net in the sixth minute for the difference in a 1-0 triumph

“We just felt that [winning balls in the air] was a place where we were going to get rewarded,” said Larsen, who knew the shorter Dons (31-1-1), who came in ranked No. 2 nationally by ESPN Rise, might have trouble ascending with his No. 9-ranked Sea Kings (27-1-1).

Adding to the rarefied theme, it was only the second time this season a team had shut out the Dons, who came in having outscored teams 117-12. Santa Barbara had scored fewer than two goals only four times previously in 2009-10.

“We knew they were going to be really good,” Larsen said of the Dons, who posted 12 shots to the Sea Kings’ nine. “This is by far the best team we’ve played all year, certainly the best-coached team that we’ve seen. Their soccer was excellent and their individual pieces were very, very good.”

But ultimately, as many CdM foes have experienced this year, Larsen said, the Dons were defenseless against the aerial precision the Sea Kings display on corner kicks, free kicks and throw-ins.

“We’re very good on set pieces,” Larsen said. “People know that, but you can’t stop it. Unless you have a 6-2 guy, or four or five of them that can go up in the air with us, you’re going to get hurt. And we’ve been hurting just about every team we’ve played all season on set pieces.

“That’s something we kind of rely on to tip the scales in our favor, because we know we’re going to win the battle in the air. And we know we’re going to win the battle of set pieces.

“We can finish inside the [18-yard box] better than any team in high school soccer. And we defend our 18 better than any team in high school soccer. If you’re going to be champions and make these runs deep into the season, you have to be good there. And we are.”

The CdM defense, including sophomore goalkeeper Connor Gaal (four saves), senior stopper Mainthow, sophomore sweeper Greg Allen, sophomore fullbacks Jack Gorab and Matt Francini, as well as midfield support provided by junior Brian Ford, sophomore Mason Case, senior Chris Burke and freshman Jack McBean (shifted from forward soon after CdM scored), had its hands full with the Dons, and their set pieces as well.

In particular, there were two free-kick opportunities that will likely haunt the Dons beyond their long bus ride home.

The first came early after halftime, when Gaal was called for handling a pass from his own defender, a violation.

The subsequent free kick from eight yards out created a shot from senior Brian Joseff that glanced off the outside of the right goal post.

In the 89th minute, a foul just outside the box set up a 22-yard direct kick from roughly the center of the field.

But senior Jesse Gonzalez, who led the Dons in scoring with 21 goals and 17 assists, fired a drive few feet over the crossbar.

“We made about three or four mental mistakes, and we were lucky to survive them,” Larsen said. “[Gonzalez] targeted exactly where it needed to go, but he just missed it by a few inches.”

CdM defenders didn’t miss much.

“That’s definitely one of the best offensive teams we’ve played,” said Gorab, who contributed to CdM’s 17th shutout. “They’ve scored more than 110 goals and just to shut them out, especially in the final, when it’s the biggest match of the year, is remarkable. It’s a testament to our defense.”

Gorab’s teammates agreed.

“Our defense was outstanding,” said Williams, who is bound for UCLA after amassing 32 goals and 12 assists this season. “To shut that team out for 80 minutes was spectacular.”

Added Ford: “I guess we were ready for the challenge, because we weathered it. We were physically the most tired our team has been and [the Dons] threw everything they had at us and we still deflected it away.

“We knew that on every possession, we had to stay on our mark, because we knew that every time they had the ball, they were dangerous.”

Seniors Paul Zubatov, Tony Andry, Ryan Kontra and Ali Sadri also contributed Saturday for the winners, who with eight starters returning, might just find a way to stay on top.

“I think this is just the beginning of putting our soccer program on the map,” Gorab said. “[Williams] is one of four or five seniors gone, but we have a really solid amount of starters coming back, so we’re looking forward to next year.”