Girls Grades 3-4: Aggressive Andersen advances

Bryce Alderton

COSTA MESA - Seemingly every time a Newport Coast Coyote girl

gained control of the ball, an Andersen player came from nowhere to stick

a foot in and kick the ball away or deter the player just enough to gain

control of the ball.

That perseverance paid off big as Andersen’s speed and agility got the

best of Newport Coast Saturday in Pilot Cup play at The Farm Field.

Andersen advances to the final in the girls grades 3-4 division

against Carden Hall, whichdefeated Harbor Day, 2-0, in the other

semifinal on Saturday.

Andersen Co-Coach Claudio Venturini smiled after the win, but he knows

his team faces a tough opponent in the final.

“We’ll take (the win),” Venturini said. “(Carden Hall) is a very good

team. Tomorrow is it.”

Andersen capitalized on seven of its 11 shots, with Kelli Feeley

scoring twice, and Mara Schmidt scoring once in the first half. Hayley

Raguse assisted on the third goal, which came at the 24-minute mark of

the first half.

Andersen could have scored more in the first half, but Newport Coast

goalie Claire Ham used her hands to deflect a point blank shot to the

left.

Andersen kept Ham and Newport Coast defenders busy throughout the

game, getting loose for four-on-two and four-on-three advantages.

Andersen spread four players across the field on several occasions as

they went in to shoot.

All part of the plan according to Venturini.

“We move the ball a lot,” Venturini said. “We’re not selfish about

giving it up because it comes back to us.”

A cheering entourage of parents, friends and fellow classmates for

Andersen appeared on the sidelines for the second half.

Andersen’s boys third- and fourth-grade team arrived to show their

support for the girls chanting, “Let’s go Andersen.”

Andersen’s boys team won its game, 10-1, over Whittier earlier in the

day.

The yells and screams inspired the girls as Andersen scored four more

in the second half on goals by Hayley Raguse, Katie Deverian, Erin

Almaraz and Brooke DeMiranda, whose goal was assisted by Raguse and Anna

Venturini.

Newport Coast got on the board in the 22nd minute of the second half,

when Andersen goalie Mara Schmidt came out a little too far to stop a

crossing pass, but missed as Newport Coast’s Kyla Winkle got her foot on

the ball just enough to trickle it into the net for the first goal

Andersen has allowed in this year’s Pilot Cup.

The better team won Saturday, said Newport Coast Coach Mark Irwin.

“We were in deep trouble,” Irwin said. “They were the much better

team, and the better teams here are going to play in the finals tomorrow.

But our girls never gave up the entire game.”