PREP ROUNDUP : No. 1 Corona del Mar Shuts Out Santa Margarita

Santa Margarita Coach Curt Bauer didn’t offer any excuses or explanations for his team’s 3-0 loss to top-ranked Corona del Mar Monday. He simply stated the facts.

“They beat us the first 20 minutes,” Bauer said. “That’s why they’re the No. 1 team and we’re not. They’re a better team and there’s not much else to say.”

Maybe not, but Santa Margarita sweeper John Bamford added some insight anyway.

“They came out harder than we did,” Bamford said.

Midfielder Dustin Lee appeared to come out the hardest of all the Sea Kings. He scored two goals in six minutes and almost had a third except for a spectacular save by goalkeeper Brian Casola.

And though he was on the sideline nursing a sore leg, Lee was directly responsible for the Sea Kings’ third goal. He was kicked by a Santa Margarita player, resulting in a penalty kick for the Sea Kings.

Jed Weinstein converted by easily slipping the ball past a diving Casola in the left corner.

The play got extremely physical from there as Santa Margarita tried to get back into the game. The Eagles’ best chance to score came with minutes left to play when midfielder Chon Kantikvit’s drive glanced off the crossbar.

“They get frustrated if things don’t go right,” Lee said. “They started yelling at each other.”

Fourth-ranked Saddleback fell to 11-3-4 and 4-3-4 in the Sea View League. Corona del Mar improved to 16-2-3, 9-0-1. But things don’t get any easier for Corona del Mar, which plays today at third-ranked Saddleback.

“I don’t know who made our schedule, but if we can get by this week, we’re in the clear,” Lee said.