PREP ROUNDUP : Saddleback Beats Corona del Mar in Soccer

In a long-awaited Sea View League rematch, the Saddleback boys’ soccer team avenged a loss to Corona del Mar by defeating the Sea Kings, 4-3, Wednesday at Saddleback High School.

The Roadrunners are in first place in league and the fourth-ranked Sea Kings are in second.

Corona del Mar (6-4-1, 4-3) had defeated the Roadrunners, 1-0, Jan. 17 in a penalty-filled match which the referees stopped early.

Wednesday, as the teams took the field, extra security guards and officials were on hand and fans were kept 10 feet from the field by white chalked lines and orange cones.

“It’s just unfortunate in a high school game with kids playing intensely, this is needed,” said Saddleback Coach Mel Silva. “We’ve never had problems here. We know we’re out here to play soccer and follow the rules.”

Unlike the first match in which Corona del Mar dominated, Saddleback controlled much of Wednesday’s match, although the Sea Kings scored first, 7 minutes 43 seconds into the first half. But by halftime, Saddleback held a 3-1 lead.

Corona del Mar’s Garth Turner scored two minutes into the second half on a penalty kick, making the score 3-2. With eight minutes left, Jose Escudero scored his third goal of the match on an assist from Jorge Guerrero, giving Saddleback a 4-2 lead. The Sea Kings’ Scott English then scored with 2 1/2 minutes left, cutting the Roadrunners’ lead to one.

In another Sea View League boys’ soccer match:

Newport Harbor 2, Woodbridge 1--After trailing 1-0 at halftime, Bryce Rose and Jim Hicks scored second-half goals for visiting Newport Harbor (7-6-2, 4-3), which moved into a second-place tie.