Sea Kings start new season

The history-making victory came Friday for the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team.

Never before had the Sea Kings been able to claim a CIF Southern Section title in boys’ soccer. There was always talk of this year’s squad being a special team. That proved to be the case after the Sea Kings’ 2-0 win for the Division IV crown.

But the story doesn’t end there. It continues today in the CIF Southern California Regional Championships.

Corona del Mar (24-1-1) will play at Castle Park of Chula Vista in the first round at 5 p.m.

“We look at them as bonus games,” CdM first-year coach said of the tournament. “I don’t think anything can compete with what happened on Friday because of the whole experience.

“The boys look motivated to play hard this week. If they can get by [Castle Park], they are looking forward to other matchups.”

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 9 in the nation by ESPN RISE, will have to play without key players Paul Zubatov and Kjell Wolker

Zubatov, a senior starting midfielder sustained a concussion late in the first half of Friday’s win. He might be able to play if CdM wins and advances to Thursday’s semifinals.

Wolker, a sophomore who started during the season as a stopper and was also an important midfielder, went out with a dislocated shoulder in the 50th minute against La Mirada. He is out for the season, as the injury requires six of weeks of rehabilitation.

The two players helped CdM win 12 straight and record 16 shutouts this season.

With those two ailing Friday senior reserve forward Ali Sadri stepped up and scored the game-winner for CdM, the Pacific Coast League co-champion. Senior striker Reed Wiliams, bound for UCLA, scored his 29th goal of the season for the insurance tally in the 77th minute. Williams also has 12 assists.

Senior Brian Ford and freshman Jack McBean have also been vital contributors for the Sea Kings.

Castle Park (17-4-4) is coming off an upset loss in the CIF San Diego Section Division III final. The No. 2-seeded Dons, who made their first title appearance since 1976, fell to ninth-seeded Cathedral Catholic, 2-1.

The Trojans (14-6-1) scored the game-winner in the 79th minute.

Castle Park, the South Bay League champion, led at halftime after a goal from Alfredo Rodriguez.

The winner of today’s game will face the Cathedral Catholic-at-JSerra winner. The Trojans have won seven section titles. JSerra (24-4-2) is the Southern Section Division I champion.