Region 56 All-Stars successful

A pair of AYSO Region 56 All-Star soccer teams tasted success last

weekend at the Pony Express Tournament in Corona.

The Storm, a boys Under-12 team, reached the championship game before

finishing second in the division.

Pier Pressure, a girls Under-12 squad, placed third overall.

The Storm defeated Westchester, Riverside, and Corona, then tied Belmont

Shore, to reach the division final, where they fell to the same

Westchester team they had defeated in the tournament’s opening round.

Storm players turning in key performances en route to the 3-1-1 record

(in which the Storm outscored opponents, 6-1), included Latu Fangupo,

Justin DeMarco, and Kyle Ciandella.

Pier Pressure defeated Simi Valley, Jurupa, and Moreno Valley before

suffering a 2-1 loss to Saugus. The two goals by Saugus snapped 28

consecutive shutout quarters by the Pier Pressure defense.

In the consolation final, Pier Pressure overpowered North Irvine (Region

213), 5-0.

In posting an 8-1 overall record, Pier Pressure has outscored the

opposition, 17-2. Goalkeepers Kelly Hyder and Alexia Roehr head a strong

defense that also has received solid play from Chelsea Kaplan, Carley

Bonchonsky, Courtney Lynn, and Keely Miller, among others.