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Sports

Sea Kings Know They Can't Survive By Living in the Past

Corona del Mar's boy soccer team, winners of CIF Southern Section and Southern California Regional championships last season, are looking for an encore performance.

The Corona del Mar boys soccer team flew in under the radar a season ago, recording 12 shutouts during the regular season and three more in the playoffs as the Sea Kings advanced to their first CIF Southern Section title game in the program's 42-year history.

They continued that trend in the Division IV championship match, defeating La Mirada, 2-0, but didn't stop there, mowing through the competition en route to a Southern California Regional championship.

Corona del Mar officially carved a name for itself on the soccer pitches of Southern California.

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Heading into this season, the Sea Kings were not only recognized as one of the top teams in the Southland, but also were listed No. 2 in the nation by ESPN RISE in its preseason rankings.

Corona del Mar coach George Larsen, who took over last season and inherited several players he coached on the Newport Beach-based Slammers Futbol Club, said the Sea Kings aren't feeling any different under the spotlight.

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"Last year's titles were last year's titles," he said. "All we talk about is the titles this year. We know the best team out there is going to win them, and we'll work toward being one of those teams."

Just two weeks into the season and the Sea Kings are already facing some serious challenges.

Sophomore forward Jack McBean, expected to replace much of the offense lost through the graduation of Reed Williams, the Gatorade California Boys Soccer Player of the Year last season, decided to accept an invitation to train with the U.S. Under-17 national team in Bradenton, Fla. He left on Monday.

Another top returner, junior midfielder Matt Francini, had to leave the team after one game because his Irvine Strikers' academy team does not allow its players to compete at the high school level.

"We're a little bit more short-handed than we thought," Larsen said.

Larsen will count more heavily on UC Davis-bound senior Brian Ford to pick up the slack. Ford, the Division IV defensive player of the year last season, starts at midfield, but often moves up or back depending on Corona del Mar's needs as the game unfolds.

"Brian is having to step up and fill some different holes for us," Larsen said.

With the departure of Williams and McBean up front, junior Mason Case has done a worthy job filling the voids during the early season, scoring seven goals through the first nine games, including the only point in a 1-1 tie at Mater Dei on Dec. 15.

Case missed most of last season with two bilateral fractures in his lower back, a result of year-round competition and growth spurts, Larsen said.

"This year, he's healthy and he's already contributing," Larsen said. "He's another guy we're really going to have to rely on to step up and fill some of that goal-scoring for us."

On the back end, Larsen said goalkeeper Connor Gaal brings toughness, leadership and solid field presence. He's supported by center fullback Greg Allen and his right-hand man, Jack Gorab.

"We lost a good chunk, but we have a good a nucleus coming back," Larsen said.

Whether that will be enough for Corona del Mar to defend its titles will be answered in March.

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