Corona del Mar on the climb
But by taking the top-seeded Knights (17-2) to the wire Monday in the semifinals of the Orange County Lacrosse Assn. playoffs, No. 4-seeded Corona del Mar (12-7) proved it is clearly approaching the summit.
"I'm pretty proud," CdM Coach Mark Todd, after the Sea Kings forged leads of 3-2, 4-2, 5-4 and 8-7, before dropping a 10-8 decision that ended their season.
"[The Knights] were [Orange County] champs last year and they are ranked No. 1 this year," Todd said. "So, to lose by just one goal is a triumphant effort."
The effort was there until the end for the Sea Kings, who scored with 57 seconds left to halve a 10-8 deficit, then made two valiant efforts to score on its final two possessions, but to no avail.
It was a tough fourth period for the Sea Kings, whose final lead was erased with 1:21 left in the 12-minute third quarter when John Duddridge scored on an assist by Elliot Domanic to knot the score at 8-8.
Duddridge, who scored a game-high five goals, scored 32 seconds into the final period — on an assist from Domanic — to give the Knights the lead for good.
Foothill took the next two shots, one of which was blocked and the other sailed wide.
Down a goal and besieged by the more experience visitors, CdM appeared to begin pressing offensively. They dropped balls and had balls stolen during offensive runs. They managed only one shot in the first 11 minutes of the final period, before Noah Molnar scooped up a ball mishandled by Foothill goalie Sam Goings, and firing it in the open net to prompt a roar from the CdM rooters.
But Foothill's defensive prowess and what Todd called a lack of smart decisions in the offensive end, helped the Knights hold off the underdog hosts.
"I think we had the gas," Todd said to an inquiry about whether the Sea Kings tired in the final 12 minutes. "We just didn't make good decisions with the ball. That, I think, was a product of our inexperience."
The Sea Kings' lacrosse experience has been an uphill climb from the beginning, as with most programs undertaking a sport relatively new on the West Coast.
Todd said the program began five years ago. A few of the six seniors, including just two starters, recalled scoring a goal was difficult for that first team. Todd, who began coaching four seasons ago, could not recall if his team even won a game his first season.
Some senior players, all of whom addressed their teammates after the game, acknowledged that Monday's near upset symbolized just how much progress the fledgling program has come.
Only Austin Ray and Ty Oberly will create holes in the starting lineup when they graduate in June.
"Each year has been a building block," Todd said.
It was CdM's third lose this season to Foothill, which earned a 16-7 win on April 14 and collected a 12-9 victory on March 23.
Domanic, who leads the Knights with 63 goals and 27 assists, had four goals and two assists Monday.
Duddridge had five goals and one assist.
"Those two kids are very good lacrosse players," Todd said. "Domanic is going to Towson [University, based in Maryland, a lacrosse hotbed], which is my alma mater. I coached him on a club team. I coached a couple of those [Foothill] players, as a matter of fact."
Molnar led CdM with four goals and added one assist, while Ryan Mix chipped in three goals.
Michael Kidushim and Casey Bush were each credited with a goal.
Oberly, Nick Taylor and Ryan Mix added assists for the Sea Kings, who received 10 saves from goalie Andrew Noto.
Molnar had six ground balls (loose balls, some of which are the equivalent of steals) to lead the Sea Kings. Kevin Kottke had four ground balls and Taylor had three.
Goings made five saves for the Knights, who posted a 28-17 advantage in shots. Foothill outshot the hosts, 15-6, in the first half, but the Sea Kings converted five of those to earn a 5-5 deadlock at the intermission.
Foothill had two would-be goals taken away. Their first goal was disallowed because of an equipment violation (a pocket deemed too deep on the would-be scorer's stick). The second goal was negated when an official ruled the player who scored did so without a mouthpiece.
BARRY FAULKNER can be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.
From the Daily Pilot http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/05/01/sports/dpt-cdmlax01.txt
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