Keasey's third goal caps CdM's perfect season

Michael Keasey's final goal as a member of the Corona del Mar High boys' lacrosse team meant a lot to him, his teammates and his coach.

The goal proved to be the game-winner, allowing the Sea Kings to claim their first U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section title last week.

Keasey and the Sea Kings played for more than their school during a 7-6 win against Palos Verdes that day. They played for Coach George Warren Mix's father, George Warren "Moose" Mix Sr., who passed away at 74 of heart failure on May 4, eight days before CdM completed its historic season.

David Keasey, Michael's father, said "Moose" was with the Sea Kings that afternoon against Palos Verdes.

When Keasey found the back of the net for the third time at Mission Viejo High, a familiar song blasted. The song was Mix's dad's favorite, "Sweet Caroline."

Oh, how sweet it was when Keasey's goal, coming with 10:46 left in the fourth quarter, broke a 6-6 tie and held up to be the difference.

"This one's for Moose," said Keasey, who wore a shirt with those exact words underneath his jersey, as did the rest of the team.

Keasey and the Sea Kings dedicated the season to "Moose" ever since he fell ill during the season. Keasey said it brought the team closer together because "Moose" was the father of the coach and grandfather of a player, Casey.

"It meant a lot for me and my son Casey that the kids had my dad in their thoughts," said Mix, whose father was a well-known attorney in Towson, Md. "There is a lot going through the minds of teenage kids. I thought it was remarkable what they did. They faced adversity and it could've been a big distraction. You don't know how kids would act in that situation."

Keasey and the Sea Kings rose to the occasion.

Mix taught them how and the Sea Kings were able to finish 24-0 and record their first undefeated season.

Keasey said he learned a lot from Mix, who has coached Keasey since he was in elementary school and playing for the Newport Beach Surf Dawgs.

Keasey said he probably never would have played lacrosse if it were not for a friend's dad.

Keasey's buddy was Bobby Brooks, whose father, Andy, sought Keasey out.

"He asked me to come out for lacrosse when I was in fourth grade," Keasey said. "I was a baseball kid."

Keasey kept swinging, just with a different stick and from all sorts of unusual angles.

Instead of trying to make contact with the ball, he carried the ball at the end of a stick, inside a pocket.