Soccer: Another thriller expected

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - If today’s semifinal between Carden Hall and Kaiser

No. 1 is anything like last year’s finals, make sure you bring a beach

chair or something comfortable to sit on, because it could last a while.

“They’re our big rival,” Carden Hall fifth- and sixth-grade girls

soccer coach Mike Bernay said of the Knights, after Carden Hall’s 2-0

quarterfinal win over Kaiser No. 2 at the Farm Field -- the final game to

be completed Saturday in the third annual Daily Pilot Cup.

Kaiser’s No. 1 squad edged Carden Hall last year in the third- and

fourth-grade division championship match on penalty kicks, after Carden

Hall rallied from a 4-1 deficit in regulation to force two overtime

periods, then finally it came down to the last penalty kick.

“So we know them and they know us,” added Bernay, whose team scored

quickly in the quarterfinal win (fourth minute) on a goal by center

halfback Christina O’Tousa, who footed one in from 10 yards out.

In the second half, sweeper Maggie Bernay scored on a penalty kick to

give Carden Hall a 2-0 lead, firing a rocket into the upper-right corner

in the 35th minute.

“We had a couple of breakaways, but Carden Hall was strong on

defense,” Kaiser Coach Ron Castor said.

Many key players from Carden Hall’s runner-up team last year in the

third- and fourth-grade division have moved up to the fourth- and

fifth-grade squad.

Carden Hall’s Alisha Agrellas played well in the field, while

goalkeepers Parisa Crane (four first-half saves) and Allisa Darwish

(three saves in the second half) helped shut out Kaiser No. 2.

Kayla Henrie, Tina Theriot, Elizabeth Cramer, Terra Friedman,

Christine Sandoval, Alex Griggs, Terra Giacomaro, McKenna Cottam, Anna

Furman, Lauren Thagard, Rita Argueta, Kristin Bassler, Karina Veit and

Shay Brown all contributed for Kaiser No. 2 throughout the Cup.

“I think we had a chance coming in,” said Castor, then added with a

laugh, “They’re just a little stronger and a little bigger ... it’ll be

interesting to see how Carden Hall does (today at 9:30 a.m.) against our

No. 1 team.”