CdM rallies, advances

A one-goal deficit shocked the Corona del Mar High girls’ soccer team Wednesday at Yucaipa High. But the Sea Kings didn’t stay stunned.

CdM, the No. 1 seed, rallied for a 2-1 victory in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

Freshman Shelby Brown scored the game-winner in the 67th minute, when she completed a great play with her left foot, CdM Coach Bryan Middleton said.

Senior Ally Brahs began the play with a pass to junior Annie Alvarado at the 18-yard box. Alvarado passed it back to Brahs, who set the ball to her left, leaving a nice opportunity for Brown. And, Brown put it away.

“I thought Ally would maybe spin and hit it in, but she got it to Shelby,” Middleton said in a phone interview. “It was a very nice play with the three of them being composed at the same time.”

CdM (21-2-2), the Pacific Coast League champion, trailed, 1-0, after Yucaipa (21-4-2) scored in the 20th minute. Junior Ashley Dean, the Thunderbirds’ top player, scored her 38th goal of the season off a long throw-in to surprise the Sea Kings. Yucaipa, the Citrus Belt champ, was thinking about an upset.

“It was a little bit of shock and a wake-up call because we were dominant in the first half. But that’s soccer,” Middleton said. “They generated their one opportunity in the first half. We’ve been down, 1-0, before this season … It was good that our girls’ team persevered and played all the way through to get the win today.”

In the 61st minute, Alvarado headed in a goal. The ball appeared to deflect off a Yucaipa player on its way in, Middleton said.

CdM junior Karsten Sigband provided the assist with a corner kick. Sigband produced at least six stellar corner kicks in the first half and, “had a very good game,” Middleton said. Brahs nearly scored on one corner kick in the first half, but the ball ricocheted off the post.

The Sea Kings will play host to Santa Margarita (15-5-2) in the quarterfinals Friday. The Eagles, the Trinity League champions, beat Capistrano Valley, 3-0, Wednesday.

Friday’s game is tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium.

— Compiled by Steve Virgen

Twitter: @SteveVirgen