PREP SOCCER ROUNDUP : Woodbridge Regroups for 1-1 Tie

Corona del Mar, ranked eighth in the Southern Section Division 4-A, kept Woodbridge in check for much of the first half, but the Warriors regrouped in the second and tied the Sea Kings, 1-1, Tuesday at Woodbridge High School.

Despite the tie, the Sea Kings (11-4-3, 6-0-1) remained in first place in the Sea View League.

“I thought we were the superior team,” Corona del Mar Coach Peter Farrell said. “We didn’t score on some easy chances in front of their goal, and their keeper kept them in it.”

Woodbridge goalie Michelle Helering recorded 10 saves and preserved the tie with three saves on close-range shots late in the second half.

Woodbridge, which spent 80% of the first half on its side of the field, trailed, 1-0, at halftime.

With nine minutes remaining in the first half, Stefanie Hughes scored Corona del Mar’s only goal. She split two Woodbridge defenders near the top of the penalty area, drove to the goal unguarded, and trickled her shot into the lower left corner of the net.

Woodbridge tied the score in the second half on a direct penalty kick by Lori Jean Niles from 30 yards.

After Niles drew a tripping foul eight minutes into the second half, she chipped the ball over Corona del Mar’s two-man wall into the top right-hand corner of the net.

“That was a silly thing to give away,” Farrell said. “I didn’t think a trip should have been called, but we never should have been caught in that situation anyway.”