By Ed Wehde
WSL Special Correspondent

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- After squeaking out a narrow win in its last game, No. 4 La Costa Canyon had a point to prove. Message received loud and clear.

The Mavericks jumped on No. 6 Corona del Mar early and routed the Sea Kings, 16-4, in a California Interscholastic Federation game Saturday night at La Costa Canyon.

The win came three days after the Mavericks edged Wheat Ridge, 4-3, in a game they felt they didn't play their best.

“Wednesday kind of woke us up a little bit,” senior long-stick middie Steven Bogert said. “Even though it was a win, it felt like a loss. We wanted to come out today and work hard, play hard, move the ball around and score and play good defense. We did, and it felt good.

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“We talked about how Corona del Mar is a great team, and we can’t come out soft like we did (Wednesday). We had to be ready to play.”

The undefeated Mavericks (7-0) were, and they rolled to their seventh straight win. They led 2-0 before the Sea Kings (7-1) gained possession of the ball, and it was 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The early lead prevented Corona del Mar from ever really getting into the game, and the Sea Kings didn't get on the board until just 12 seconds remained in the first half.

“They controlled the ball the entire first half, and they didn't give us anything when we had it,” Corona del Mar senior attackman Ryan Mix said. “We couldn't even fight back, because they had the ball the whole time.

“They’re on a completely different level than everyone else, and it showed. We have a long way to go, but I’m confident we'll get there.”

One of the biggest contrasts in the game was in extra-man situations. The Mavericks scored all three times they were man-up and killed off all four man-down situations.

“Our defense and our goalie have played together a long time, and we kind of have the man-down down a little bit,” said Bogert, who has committed to Hofstra. “Man-up, we moved the ball great.”

Mavericks defensemen Reid Tudor and Eric Soenksen shut down Mix, the Sea Kings’ biggest offensive threat, and starting goalie Eric Sanschagrin saved nine shots. Tommy Strock contributed three saves in goal after the Mavericks emptied their bench.

Mix, who has committed to Notre Dame, did manage two goals, but both came after the Mavericks had a big lead.

“They’re fantastic,” Corona del Mar head coach G.W. Mix said. “They have terrific athletes on defense and some terrific athletes in the midfield. Do I think we played well at the offensive end? Of course not, but they played great.”

La Costa Canyon senior attackman Timmy Andrews scored a career-high five goals, junior Sean Hayden scored three and junior Michael Gennuso and senior Johnny Morgan each notched a pair. Andrews and Hayden also added two assists apiece.

“My teammates gave me opportunities to score, and I just took advantage,” Andrews said.