Daily Pilot Soccer Cup: Sharks begin title defense with 1-0 win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - As the Daily Pilot Soccer Cup made its return so did

the barking from the Newport Heights Elementary boys fifth- and

sixth-grade team.

The Sharks were more like the Dogs when they woofed before and after a

1-0 win over Davis Thursday at Kaiser Elementary.

On their Daily Pilot Cup championship run last year, the Newport

Heights team used the barking to throw off their opponents and to inspire

team unity.

“It’s our secret weapon,” Sharks Coach Jim Carmack joked. “It creates

doubt in the opposition because they’re trying to find out whether we’re

sane or not.”

The team spirit paid off in the second half when Newport Heights broke

a scoreless tie. The scoring play started at midfield as Nathan Castilla

began the charge. Evan Hochwald took it from there and fed Stevie Farmer

on the break. Farmer showed some fancy footwork, dancing his way for the

game’s lone goal. He then stretched his arms and acted like an airplane

to celebrate.

Davis, however, never allowed another flight. With German Briceno,

Francisco Estrada, Erik Luna, Hugo Dorantes and Raffi Kidikian defending,

Davis calmed the Sharks. And earlier in the first half, Chad Lopez nearly

delivered a 1-0 advantage. He fired on a breakaway just before the first

half ended, but the ball sailed wide right.

Newport Heights also displayed some strong defense with Castilla, Rush

Stevens and Evan Hochwald leading the effort. Brian Wong and Eric Paine

shared goalkeeping duties to ensure the shutout.

For Davis, Jaybenny Quiroz played goalie the first half and Derek

Belmont guarded the net in the second. Belmont came up with a big save

toward the end of the game when Farmer nearly scored again.

Sharks Nathan Petty, Jimmy Pantoskey, Chad Stassel, J.J. Frei and

Steven Stoneman served duty as midfielders. Davis midfielders included

Marco Soto, Christian Lopez, Erick Corona and Steve Estrada also played

sparingly at the position, switching to forward as well.

Josh Quiroz, an 18-year-old who attends Huntington Beach High, coached

Davis. He also worked as the game’s linesman because the lack of

officials as all coaches and referees are volunteers in the 71-team

tournament.