AYSO Region 97: Fire stays hot

The Fire burned its competition by winning three straight games in

the AYSO Region 97 boys under-14 Area Q Championship Tournament.

The Fire came from behind to earn a 3-2 victory over a South Irvine

team in the first round. Donny Hunt scored early in the game off a pass

from Nick Hendricks. In the second half, Hendricks added two unassisted

goals. Thomas Harrington and Nick Normandin were strong on defense while

goalkeeper Nick Weil made key saves.

In the Fire’s second game against Corona del Mar’s Flaming Ice,

Hendricks scored three goals to help the Fire earn a 3-2 win. Hunt and

Chris Womble had assists.

The Fire took on a Costa Mesa team in the third game. Hendricks scored

early in the contest on a pass from Harrington. Hunt added a goal on a

penalty kick to give the Fire a 2-1 victory. Goalkeeper Ian Fowler

stopped a penalty kick. He received defensive support from Brennen Snow,

Will Prioleau, Mike Madison, Justin Whisler and Jacob Silverman.

In boys under-14 Area Q playoff action:

* The Rebels defeated Tustin, 3-2, battled to a 2-2 tie with North

Irvine and lost to Costa Mesa, 2-1.

Against Tustin, the Rebels received two unassisted goals from Sergio

Rodriquez. Renice Davis added a goal with an assist from Jonathan Gordon.

Also contributing on offense were Benjamin Pepic and Brian Wong. The

midfield was controlled by Phil Garrett, Wesley Urtusuastegui and Patrick

Vlahakis. The defense was anchored by Jeremy Lewis, David Garrett and

Logan Schuttenhelm. Davis and Alex Boullon split goalkeeper duties.

Against North Irvine, Rodriquez deflected a shot by Pepic into the net

and David Garrett pushed in a rebound off a shot from Cameron Kilmer.

Ethan Bartolic was solid on defense and Edgar Torres played well in the

midfield. Boullon and Davis made key saves.

In the Rebels’ final game against Costa Mesa, Boullon took a powerful

shot that bounced off the goal post and Rodriquez hammered the rebound

into the net.

In girls under-14 Area Q playoff action:

* No Mercy went undefeated to take first in the team’s pool. No Mercy

won its first game, 3-2. Kelsey Dunn, Marie Kapelke and Danielle Theriot

scored goals. Carrie Cabanillas had assists. Natasha Jimenez, Liz Nealy

and Katherine Rasch moved the ball well. The defense was anchored by

Chelsea Ward, Brytnee Wright, Spencer Tonkinson, Annabella Storch and

Ashley Rogers. Angela Mello could not play because of an injury. Kelly

Parker was strong in the net for No Mercy, which is 2-0-1 in the tourney.

In boys under-12 APP action:

* Newport Beach earned a 5-0 victory over Tustin and followed up with

a 2-2 tie with San Juan Capistrano and a 2-2 tie with Rancho Santa

Margarita.

Against Tustin, goals were scored by Taylor Friend, Brian Siemonsma,

Adrian Bounanoce and Garrett Heiser. Will Reichenstein, Robbie Joslin,

Otoniel Garcia, Matt Josyln, Robby Gordon, Jeremy Anish, Jake Carroll,

Nicholas Sheffield and Calvin Jhunjhnuwala also contributed to the win.

Against San Juan Capistrano, Bounanoce and Heiser scored goals. In

Newport’s game against Rancho Santa Margarita, Reichenstein and Heiser

had goals. Denny Perdomo remains on the injured list but may return to

the lineup soon.

In boys under-10 Area Q playoff action:

* The Blue Rebels won two of three games and received goals from Matt

Mello, Bunker Hill, Blake Davey and Mario Figueroa. The defense was

anchored by Fisher Robison, Brodi Beal, Zach Moghaddam and Zach Buie. The

midfield was dominated by Justin Cerrato, Ryan Cerrato and Kawika Morse.

Christopher Whitelegge made a game saving move on defense.