Area units hit road to open CIF

Rick Devereux

Two out of three Newport-Mesa boys soccer teams had 50-50 chances of

receiving a first-round home playoff game, but all three will open

the postseason on the road Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Corona del Mar High boys soccer team finished second in the

Pacific Coast League and will play at Chaparral, the Southwestern

League’s second-place team, in the first round of the CIF Southern

Section Division II playoffs.

If CdM can beat the Pumas (12-7-4), it will host No. 2-seeded

Santa Barbara (20-3-3) in the second round Feb. 23.

Joining CdM in the postseason are Golden West League runner-up

Estancia (Division III) and Academy League runner-up Sage Hill

(Division VI).

Estancia will play Sonora (15-7-2), the second-place team from the

Freeway League. An Eagle win will likely mean a home date with No.

3-seeded Garey.

Estancia (9-8-3) reached the playoffs for the first time since the

1999-2000 season, when the Eagles won the Division IV title, the

Pacific Coast League title, and outscored opponents, 93-9.

Sage Hill travels to Westmark (7-1-1), the Omega League champion,

in the first round with a possible second-round home game against No.

3-seeded Bishop.

Sage went 0-6-1 to open the season, but takes an 8-8-1 record and

momentum into the postseason.

The Lightning, knocked out of the playoffs in the first round the

previous two years by St. Bernard, have won four straight.

CdM, which finished 12-6-3, played seven playoff teams this year,

including league foes Tesoro (13-5-4) and Northwood (12-6-3). The Sea Kings have a 3-4-2 record against playoff teams, giving the team

confidence heading into the postseason.

The strength of Corona del Mar is its defense, having shut out

eight opponents and having held holding seven others to one goal.

If the Sea Kings can get past Chaparral, the probable match

against Santa Barbara will be at CdM.

“That’s the one benefit,” CdM Coach Pat Callaghan said. “I’m happy

to be on road [in the first round]. [Playing at home] gives us the

best chance to advance past the second round.”

The Sea Kings advanced to the semifinals last year.