SEA VIEW LEAGUE GIRLS’ SOCCER : University Ruins Corona del Mar Playoff Party

The celebration cake ended up on the wrong sideline.

Chris Dillon, first-year coach of the Corona del Mar girls’ soccer team, stood with his birthday cake in his hands after the game and offered a piece to each parent and spectator. The candles on the cake were unlit.

It was all Dillon had to offer after University prevented the Sea Kings’ intended celebration, defeating Corona del Mar, 1-0, in a Sea View League game Thursday at Corona del Mar High.

University (9-8-3, 7-4-3 in league), which last season missed the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, clinched a final playoff berth with the victory, ending Corona del Mar’s season.

The two teams entered Thursday’s game with identical league records; the winner gained a playoff spot, the loser didn’t. Santa Margarita (14-2-8, 10-1-3) and Irvine, which shared the league title after the Eagles defeated Woodbridge, 3-1, Thursday, earned the other playoff berths.

“It is a not a happy birthday for me,” Dillon said. “It’s a shame the girls on our team worked so hard and didn’t get rewarded.”

Corona del Mar had several scoring opportunities before Angie Harding of University broke free in front of Corona del Mar’s goal 23 minutes into the second half. Harding scored her first goal of the season after Kristen Pope crossed the ball to her 10 feet in front of the goal, kicking it between the right post and Corona del Mar goalkeeper Laura Drumright.

“I had a perfect pass,” said Harding, a senior forward. “The team all pulled together to get the goal, but I was happy to score it because it is my senior year.”

Corona del Mar (10-7-6, 6-5-3), which has only one senior, had six shots in the closing minutes. Several just missed, including one which University’s freshman goalkeeper Jill Krupoff came out of the box to save as the Sea Kings’ Ali Havriluk dived into her. Krupoff, who finished with 18 saves, blocked the ball with her body.

“We are just excited to be back in the playoffs,” University first-year Coach Evelyn Yeager said.

In other league games:

Irvine 4, Newport Harbor 0--Michele Kennedy scored twice for visiting Irvine (17-4-4, 10-1-3). Newport Harbor is (5-8-1).

Santa Margarita 3, Woodbridge 1--Jenna Zanotti scored twice and Krista Widener once for Santa Margarita. Anne-Marie Risquez scored Woodbridge’s goal.