By Michael Carnow
WSL California Correspondent

LA MESA, Calif. -- The revenge may have been sweet, but the championship was even sweeter.

Senior attackman Bobby Braun registered a game-high six points on two goals and four assists to lead No. 2 Coronado to a 9-4 victory over No. 7 La Costa Canyon in the CIF-San Diego Section championship game Saturday at Helix Charter High School.

The victory marks the Islanders first-ever San Diego Section title, as Coronado avenged a 15-5 loss to the Mavericks in last year’s championship game.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TITLE GAME
GIRLS: No. 9 LA COSTA CANYON EDGES TORREY PINES, 6-5

Sophomore attackman Kyle Runyon added four points on one goal and three assists, and junior attackman Eddie Vita scored three goals to help Coronado (21-2) finish the season on a 15-game winning streak.

“We just wanted to give them a taste of what they gave us last year,” Runyon said. “ It’s exciting to be a part of the first team to ever win a CIF title, because it’s all about winning the championship.”

The Islanders shut down La Costa Canyon’s offense and dominated possession, winning 10 of the game’s 16 face-offs. Trailing by one late in the second quarter, Coronado used a five-goal run to pull away in the second half.

Junior middie Kodie Engelhart added two goals, and senior middie Sean O’Brien had one goal to round out the scoring for the Islanders, who went 20-0 against California competition this season.

Defensively, junior goalie Peter Zeller saved 10 shots.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Coronado head coach Alex Cade said. “The seniors put these guys on their shoulders, and our guys responded to their leadership. I just couldn’t be happier.”

In a losing effort, Duke-bound senior long-stick middie Spencer Peterson scored a team-high two goals for the Mavericks, despite playing with a torn patella tendon in his left knee. Peterson played limited minutes in the second half.

“I’m getting surgery on my knee this Wednesday,” Peterson said. “It’s been torn all season, and I had been able to play through the pain, but today was just too much to handle.”

Senior middie Connor Garrett and sophomore attackman Michael Gennuso both added one goal for La Costa Canyon (17-4), which had its 13-game winning streak snapped and lost to Coronado for the second time this season.

In the cage, Mavericks sophomore goalie Eric Sanschagrin saved 10 shots.

Braun put Coronado ahead 2-1 with 10:50 remaining in the first half when he drove from behind the cage and stuck a shot top left.

La Costa Canyon soon answered. The Mavericks scored twice in the next 40 seconds, and Garrett ripped a shot bottom right to put his team up 3-2 with 10:10 left in the first half. But it was all Islanders from there.

Engelhart capped Coronado’s near 15-minute, five-goal run when he fired a shot top left as he hovered above the crease with 1:55 to play in the third quarter to make it 7-3.

Gennuso caught a pass from junior attackman Timmy Andrews and scored with 9:27 remaining in regulation to bring La Costa Canyon within three at 7-4.

But the Islanders quickly dashed the Mavericks’ comeback hopes. Vita scored his third goal with 7:34 left in regulation to give Coronado its biggest lead.

“They were a great team and just played a better game,” Peterson added. “We came out fired up, but they just brought it tonight.”