Having Blake Munger in the lineup has been a rarity for the Corona del Mar boys soccer team. Injuries have kept the senior forward out of action.
But when he is on the field working with Jack Tomei and Kyle Mabwa, the Sea Kings have the ability to put together a potent attack.
All three players served a key role Thursday in Corona del Mar’s 3-1 victory against host Woodbridge in a Pacific Coast League game.
No player, though, had a bigger impact for the Sea Kings than Munger, who scored a goal and assisted on another.
“It is great having Blake back,” Corona del Mar coach George Larsen said. “He has played only about half of the games this year. When they (Munger, Mabwa and Tomei) are on, we can be pretty dangerous because we don’t just have skill, we have pace, too.
“If it is clicking, it looks good.”
The Sea Kings went ahead, 1-0, when Munger scored in the fifth minute.
Woodbridge tied the score in the 27th minute when David Medow collected a rebound at the top of the 6-yard box.
Will O’Connor scored in the same fashion in 52nd minute, putting the Sea Kings in front for good, 2-1.
“Whenever we play Woodbridge, something is always on the line, so they are prideful games,” Larsen said. “Today was no different. It was a good battle.”
George Wells set the final margin for the Sea Kings in the 70th minute. His goal was set up by Munger’s hard work and fancy footwork.
Before he crossed the ball to Wells at the far post, Munger fought off three Woodbridge defenders while keeping the ball from rolling out of play along the end line.
The Sea Kings (13-2-1, 5-1-0) are in second place in the league standings, a half-game behind Beckman, the only team to beat them in league.
Corona del Mar will play host to the Patriots on Tuesday. If Beckman beats CdM again, the Patriots would essentially wrap up the league title.
In nonleague games:
Esperanza 2, Yorba Linda 1: Bryce Frazelle and Colton Hunter both scored for the host Aztecs (8-7-3).
El Dorado 2, El Modena 0: Cole Smith scored two goals to lead the visiting Godlen Hawks (10-10).
