UPDATE: Woodbridge Converts Late Penalty Kick to Defeat Sea Kings

(UPDATE: The red card that the Corona del Mar goalkeeper received in this game against Woodbridge was his second of the season and, thus, he will not be competing in any more matches this season. In a conversation with Athletic Director Don Grable Friday, Patch learned learned that because of the second red card, the keeper would not be eligible for two games, which is all the Sea Kings have remaining in their regular season. His eligibility for the playoffs is up to school administrators.)

Although it lacked the official title of League Championship, Wednesday night's boys soccer match between Corona del Mar and Woodbridge had an unmistakable feel of all-or-nothing. For all intents and purposes, the Sea Kings and Warriors squared off at Alton Athletic Park in Irvine with the Pacific Coast League title at stake.

Each team brought its own chip-on-the-shoulder mentality onto the field. Woodbridge, rounding out its first season in the league, was eager to assert itself as an unlikely CIF Southern Section title contender with a second victory over Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings sought to defend their league crown and maintain an undefeated road record.

Needless to say, the competition was fierce and often testy. However, emotions spiraled out of control late in the contest, leaving Corona del Mar licking its wounds after a penalty kick propelled Woodbridge to a 2-1 victory.

Things appeared to be looking up for the Sea Kings (12-2-6, 5-2-1 in league) as time dwindled in the second half. Corona del Mar knotted the score at one goal apiece with under 10 minutes remaining, seemingly guaranteeing itself at least a tie on the road. Then came the red card.

Corona del Mar's goalkeeper got caught up in a scrum near the front of his net and suddenly found himself ejected from the game at the worst possible time. To make matters worse, the keepers' infraction -- the referee ruled that he flagrantly shoved Woodbridge’s Brett Grijalva to the ground following a collision -- resulted in the Warriors’ game-determining penalty kick.

"If the play happened how the referee said, then obviously that's a big emotional mistake," Sea Kings coach George Larsen said. "You don't usually see that from a caliber of player like [our keeper]. I've been watching our guys trying to fend off everyone in their minds all season and, unfortunately, we just haven't been able to emotionally get through it."

The mistake cost Corona del Mar dearly when Woodbridge senior Serkan Guvenc sent a streaming shot to the back of the net, handing the lead -- and most likely the league title  -- to the Warriors (15-4-5, 6-0-2).

"[Penalty kicks] can be the most dangerous situations because you're expected to make it at that point," Woodbridge coach Sean Ganey said. "All the pressure is on you and you‘ve got the home crowd watching. To step up and smash the ball like he did was fantastic."

The teams arrived at intermission locked in a scoreless stalemate and, while the temperature dropped, the atmosphere rapidly intensified. After stopping the Warriors' first two scoring chances of the second half, the Sea Kings couldn’t defend the third.

Woodbridge forward Matt Laughlin charged into Sea Kings territory with a full head of steam, roaring down the field and evading defenders on his way to open field. The senior then pulled the trigger about 10 yards shy of the net, launching a streaking shot across his body that rolled far beyond the diving keeper and pushing the Warriors ahead, 1-0, while sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

An altercation along the Woodbridge sidelines midway through the second half provided a sign of things to come. Words and a few shoves were exchanged during the tussle, which brought the Corona del Mar keeper 40 yards beyond his net to monitor the action and forced the referee to issue two yellow cards.

Tensions raised even further minutes later when Corona del Mar’s Brian Ford tied the score with an acrobatic header. Ford, who earlier in the day signed his letter of intent to play collegiately at UC Davis, put the Sea Kings back in control of their own destiny.

A tie would’ve kept the teams at even keel atop the league standings in the win column. But Woodbridge, which took down Corona del Mar, 3-2, in their Jan. 14 meeting, wasn’t interested in a draw.

"After they tied it, we called a timeout and huddled up," Ganey said. "The boys talked, sorted some things out and refocused themselves. We got back on top of the game and finished it."

Less than six minutes after they saw their lead ripped away, the Warriors took it right back with the penalty kick. Woodbridge now holds a three-point advantage in the Pacific Coast standings and is guaranteed the league title as long as it avoids two consecutive losses (against Northwood and Irvine) to close out the regular season.

"At the beginning of the season, our guys set their goal as a league title and they knew it ran through Corona del Mar," Ganey said. "[Corona del Mar] is a great team and they've earned all their accolades. Our boys felt like we could play with them and match their intensity. I think we showed it today."

Though the Sea Kings appear to have been dethroned in devastating fashion, Corona del Mar’s coach maintained that all is not lost and it’s imperative that the team quickly recovers for another playoff drive.

"Obviously, we're going to have to regroup and learn from this," Larsen said. "Last year we had a very long run on our way to winning a CIF [Southern Section Division 2] championship. What I'm learning this season is that we've had a hard time recharging mentally and emotionally. We've spent the whole year being the team to beat, and the mental fatigue is evident."

Corona del Mar takes on University in a 3:15 p.m. match on Friday at Las Lomas Community Park. The Sea Kings will play without their starting goalkeeper, who must serve a mandatory one-game suspension as a result of the red card.

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