BOYS’ SOCCER ROUNDUP : Smith’s Intense Play in Goal Carries No. 5 Corona del Mar

Brian Smith stepped up his on-the-job training as Corona del Mar’s goalkeeper Monday in Newport Beach. Smith, who is new to the position, leaped and dived and sacrificed his body in a Sea View League game against Saddleback.

The result was a 1-0 victory for the fifth-ranked Sea Kings and one tired goalkeeper.

“All I could think about was keeping the ball out of the net,” said Smith, a senior. “That’s my job, keeping the ball out of the net.”

A job he has had to learn on the run this season.

Smith, who was on the junior varsity last season, was a defender through most of his career. His idea of a good time certainly wasn’t having players fire point-blank shots at his face.

But the Sea Kings did not have an experienced goalkeeper, so Smith was pressed into service.

“We knew Brian had good reactions,” Coach Ray Hales said, “and he looked like a goalkeeper.”

Smith certainly did Monday. He made nine saves, some of which took extraordinary efforts, for his sixth shutout of the season.

In the first half, he leaped and tipped away a shot over the crossbar. A few minutes later, he dived to his right to deflect another shot.

In the second half, he again went to his right, smothering a shot by Juan Maldonado, who was open in front of the net.

“The hardest thing I have to learn is diving for the ball,” Smith said. “I kept trying to kick it away, like a defender. Now, in practice, Coach doesn’t even throw the ball at me. He just yells, ‘dive left’ or ‘dive right.’ ”

Sparked by Smith’s play, the Sea Kings (11-0-3, 2-0-1) were able to strengthen their position in the league race. They were coming off a 1-1 tie against Santa Margarita, the county’s No. 1-ranked team, and followed with a victory over Saddleback, ranked third.

The game was scoreless at halftime, although the Sea Kings had plenty of opportunities. Twice Beat Baudenbacher had an open net, but missed each time.

“We were in control in the first half, but we couldn’t finish anything off,” Hales said.

They finally did, early in the second half. Jason Boyce’s direct kick ricocheted off a wall of Saddleback defenders and bounced to Jed Weinstein, who scored.

It was only the fifth goal that goalkeeper Eddy Lopez has allowed this season. In fact, every time he has surrendered a goal, Saddleback (8-4, 1-1) has lost.

The Roadrunners dominated much of the final 20 minutes, getting five good shots. But on each, Smith was up to the task.

In other Sea View League games:

Woodbridge 3, Irvine 1--Jason Szczuka scored twice for host Woodbridge (6-3-2, 2-1). Irvine is 4-5-4, 0-3.

Santa Margarita 0, Newport Harbor 0--Goalkeeper Matt Reis made three saves for visiting Santa Margarita. Mike Freeman made one save and Seve Kleha four for Newport Harbor (3-4-4, 1-0-1).

In the Garden Grove League:

Pacifica 5, Bolsa Grande 0--Ron Yoast, Vince Murry, Mike Jewett, Ryan Rost and Todd Esparza scored for Pacifica (7-5, 3-1).

In the Pacific Coast League:

Estancia 5, Costa Mesa 1--Greg Dill and Juan Camberos each scored twice for visiting Estancia (7-6-2, 1-0). Ryan Arrechederra scored for Costa Mesa (0-1 in league).

In the Sunset League:

Santa Ana 2, Marina 0--Candido Lopez and Armando Hernandez scored to lead Santa Ana (12-1-1, 3-0-1) over Marina (9-5-2, 1-3). Santa Ana goalkeeper Jose Chacon had five saves.