Key Victories Set Up Title Shots for University, Sonora

University and Sonora each avenged losses with victories last week to put themselves into position to win league titles.

Three-time defending Pacific Coast League champion University, which has reached the Southern Section finals each of the past two seasons, toppled Corona del Mar, 9-7.

A month ago, Corona del Mar defeated University, 11-5, in the Newport Harbor tournament.

“That first game was a butt kicking,” University Coach Mike Reid said. “Then I looked at the video tape and it didn’t really show that.”

Reid was encouraged and thought a few adjustments and the addition of starter Julie Voorhees, a sophomore who missed the first Corona del Mar game, could make a difference.

That optimism could have been quashed after the Trojans fell behind, 5-1, at halftime.

But a goal by Kirby Jacobs, a key save by goalie Tiffany Mayer and steady production from Marion Gee and Voorhees helped the Trojans rally. A victory over Estancia on Wednesday will result in a fourth consecutive league title for Gee and Jacobs, both seniors.

“We lost eight of 11 players from last season’s team,” Reid said. “Nobody thought we were going to win that Corona game. But maybe we can finish just like last year.”

Sonora pulled a repeat of last season, spoiling Troy’s bid to clinch its first league title with a 5-4 victory last week. Troy had earlier defeated Sonora, 10-4.

But in last week’s rematch, Sonora’s Samantha Arnold scored the tying goal in the fourth quarter, and leading scorer Laura McNabb put the Raiders ahead for good at 4-3. Sophomore goalie Courtney Robertson added another goal.

“We felt if we could take away their counterattack, we could stop them in their half-court offense,” Sonora Coach Jason Wilson said.

Sophomore Katie Davis provided a defensive spark, Wilson said, and the result was Troy’s second loss of the season, putting Sonora on track to win a second consecutive league title.

PARITY PROBLEM

University’s victory over Corona del Mar will likely put those two teams and Laguna Beach in a three-way tie for the Pacific Coast League title.

One of those teams will receive the league’s No. 3 berth into the upcoming Southern Section playoffs by way of a coin flip.

El Dorado, the second-ranked team in Division IV and likely Empire League champion, top-ranked and freelance entry Santa Margarita, or another unlucky league champion could be facing a Pacific Coast League co-champion in the first round.

“I really don’t want to see that,” Santa Margarita Coach Scott Taylor said.

Irvine Coach Scott Hinman is facing a similar predicament in Division I, where balance and parity reign.

Coaches agree that as many as eight teams can be considered among the “favorites” to win it all, making fair playoff pairings a shaky proposition.

“Shoot, just throw all the teams in a hat,” Hinman said.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Century League should be decided on Friday, when seventh-ranked Villa Park hosts fifth-ranked Foothill at 3:45 p.m.

Villa Park defeated Foothill, 7-6, in the semifinals of the Newport Harbor tournament.

Foothill finished seventh at the Southern California Championships last week, and freshmen Gabbie Domanic, Brittany Hayes and goalie Emily Feher complement last season’s leading scorers Jackie Pirro and Daylene Coberly.

Villa Park finished 10th in the same tournament. The Spartans, three-time defending champions, feature a balanced offense led by two-time league player of the year Kristyn Pulver along with Cindy Henn, Megan Michel and Danee French.

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