Daily Pilot Cup: Morrow’s slap gives Harbor Day the win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Andy Morrow used a simple strategy to provide the

difference in a Daily Pilot Cup third- and fourth-grade boys soccer

quarterfinal game. Morrow, Harbor Day’s goalie, slapped away a penalty

kick to take the air out of Rea and bring life to his teammates.

Harbor Day also took advantage of its scoring opportunities and won,

2-1, as Chase Ross scored both goals Saturday at The Farm Complex.

“Sometimes you have to guess on a penalty kick,” said Morrow, who

finished with seven saves. “I just guessed right.”

Rea, the second-place team of Pool A, took control in the first half

with constant attacks to the net. But, Harbor Day, the Pool E champion,

never gave in. Before halftime, Merrett Scott found Ross cutting toward

the net and fed him a nice pass. Ross then gave Harbor Day a 1-0 lead.

Midway through the second half, Morrow came up with the big save on

the penalty kick and less than five minutes later, Harbor Day used the

momentum to gain a 2-0 lead.

This time Ross took a pass from Scott Thomsen to score the goal. But,

Rea didn’t give up.

Oscar Hernandez quickly answered when he deceived defenders with his

zig-zag dribbling. He fired a shot into the net with about five minutes

remaining and Harbor Day held on for the victory.

Rea maintained control in the waning moments with frequent scoring

opportunities that were brought on by Jonathan Iraheta, Genaro Lopez, Eli

Diego and Juan Zapien. Daniel Ortiz, Miguel Rodriguez, Donovan Espinoza

and Christopher Medina also helped Rea, nearly sending the game to a

penalty kick shootout.

For Harbor Day, defenders Eric Wright, Zack Martin, J.D. Edmonds, Brad

Jones and Gianni Giannulli stuffed Rea’s scoring chances. Also, Danny

Miller, Bayle Smith, Wilson Knapp, Michael Bear, Wilson Knapp, Sean Okita

and Drew Brahs combined their efforts to provide aggressive

counterattacks.

Harbor Day will face Our Lady Queen of Angels No. 1 team in the

semifinals today at 11 a.m. at The Farm Complex. Our Lady, the Pool C

champion, has not allowed a goal in the Daily Pilot Cup and scored a 6-0

victory over Newport Heights in the quarterfinal. David Guibord scored

two goals, while Zach Lucas and Nick Klein had one each.

Our Lady defeated Mariners, 6-0, earlier in the day, while Newport

Heights won, 2-1, over St. John the Baptist.