Corona del Mar girls’ soccer wins season opener

Both teams traveled for Friday’s nonleague girls’ soccer game at Newport Harbor High, albeit much different distances.

Corona del Mar just traveled the three miles across the bay to play on the Sailors’ turf. Kingsburg came down from the Central Valley.

The Sea Kings got a good match from Kingsburg, the defending CIF Central Section Division 4 champion, in their season opener. But first-half goals from senior forward Kate Briggs and sophomore midfielder Megan Chelf held up, and CdM earned a 2-1 victory.

Kingsburg also plays against host Newport Harbor at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Vikings (2-1) had to play from behind most of the way against CdM (1-0). The Sea Kings went on top in the 17th minute, after a free kick from near midfield from freshman defender Avery Doherty. Chelf headed it back to the left side of the box to Briggs, who shot it cross-cage past the goalkeeper.

“It felt awesome,” Briggs said. “It was good to get one in early in the season.”

Kingsburg tied the score in the 28th minute. CdM committed a handball in the box on a shot from sophomore forward Marissa Montelongo, who scored 27 goals last year for the Vikings. Kingsburg senior Gianna Alves put in the penalty kick past CdM keeper Giovanna Broderic, who made two saves in the contest.

CdM took the lead for good in the 38th minute, after a quick throw-in from Chelf. Sophomore Cerise Cornman played it back to Chelf, whose shot from 20 yards out near the left sideline curved in, hit off the inside of the right goalpost and went in.

Kingsburg coach Scott Hodges had wanted a push-off on Chelf prior to the throw-in, but it wasn’t called.

“It’s neither here nor there, but the [assistant referee] raised his flag because their girl pushed our girl,” Hodges said. “The center ref, I don’t know if he didn’t see him or he waved him off. It’s just unfortunate, because that’s what led to their second goal. But take nothing away from Corona del Mar. They played a great game.”

The Sea Kings were mostly able to limit Montelongo, with defense from players like senior Julie Bartz, junior Emily Mickelsen, sophomore Alex Ianni, Doherty and fellow freshman Maddie Rosen.

CdM coach Bryan Middleton was just happy to get out of the game without further injuries. He said senior forward Ava McKenzie didn’t play due to a bone bruise in her knee, and her junior sister Alyssa (back) also was out. Junior forward Celeste Wayne was in North Carolina for a club tournament, and junior defender Katharine Caston also had to sit out after she got a red card in the Sea Kings’ final game last season.

Three players — Doherty, Briggs and senior midfielder Elizabeth Lamie — also got yellow cards Friday night. Middleton is glad they weren’t red cards, as CdM will need them when it plays Rosary on Saturday at 2 p.m. in its opening game of the Ocean View Winter Tournament at Ocean View High.

“They’re a Trinity League team, so they’re going to be good,” Middleton said, adding that he was relatively pleased with Thursday’s result. “We had some phenomenal crosses, we just didn’t finish.”

matthew.szabo@latimes.com

Twitter: @mjszabo