CdM shares PCL title

IRVINE — Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer coach George Larsen was ready for a win Wednesday, but he wasn’t expecting a share of the Pacific Coast League championship. However, he said he’ll take it.

The Sea Kings (19-1-1, 8-1-1 in league) were excited after their 8-0 win against Beckman that led to share of the league title because University (8-1-1 in league) tied with Irvine, 1-1.

Senior Reed Williams finished the regular season with 27 goals, as he scored a hat trick against the Patriots. The UCLA-bound striker also produced three assists, before leaving the game with a busted lip midway through the second half. Larsen said Williams was in need of 11 stitches after a collision with a Beckman player.

Ali Sadri also scored three goals for CdM, while Jack Gorab and Chris Burke added one goal each. Burke, Matt Francini and goalie Connor Gaal each contributed an assist.

Larsen said CdM suited up 12 players for the game, as he was missing 10 because of illness, injury or other commitments. Freshman Jack McBean was in Costa Rica with the U.S. Olympic Development Program U-15 team, and four other players were on a trip with the school’s student government group.

Gaal, who took a hard shot to his nose, had one save in the first half, when CdM led, 5-0. Parsa Rahmatpanah had four saves in the second half to help with the shutout.

While Gaal was getting treatment for his nose, Williams busted his lip during the collision, Larsen said.

The Sea Kings’ first-year coach said he received the University-Irvine, 1-1 score via text.

“We had three goals this year,� said Larsen, whose team is ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division IV coaches’ poll and No. 16 in the nation by ESPN RISE. “To beat [Newport] Harbor, win league and win [a CIF title]. We feel pretty gratified to reach this goal. We don’t mind sharing this with Uni because they are a great team. Who knows, we might see each other down the road. The boys played well enough to deserve the title.�

The CIF playoff pairings will be released Monday.

— From staff reports