Rea strikes back for 6-3 victory over Andersen in the final

STEVE VIRGEN

COSTA MESA - Sweet. That would be the one-word description of Rea’s

come-from-behind 6-3 victory over Andersen to win the boys fourth- and

fifth-grade division championship in the Pilot Cup Sunday at the Costa

Mesa Farm Field.

Down 3-0 after 13 minutes, the Rea Sharks came back, scoring three

goals in seven minutes. Then, Rea outscored Andersen, the defending

champion, 3-0, in the second half. The Sharks’ Santiago Garcia scored a

hat trick, and teammate Juan Gonzalez collected two goals and an assist.

“They never quit,” said Rea Coach Nathan Urone, who teaches at the

fourth- through sixth-grade school. “They have so much heart. They’ve

been playing against each other in their classes all year. But when they

get on the same team, they just come together. They enjoy each other,

they play well with each other and they’ve got the heart. They love

(soccer).”

The Andersen Dolphins, who entered the championship game having

allowed just one goal in four games, stunned the Sharks with their quick

start. Brian Ford scored in the seventh minute to begin Andersen’s 3-0

run. Four minutes later, Randall Nelson and Parker Stone traded passes on

a breakaway and Nelson dealt an extra pass to assist Stone’s goal.

Andersen maintained the advantage and Stone scored another goal, after

taking a pass from Ford, in the 13th minute. But, Rea answered two

minutes later. Gonzalez, a Sharks’ team captain, brought new life to the

Sharks with his first goal. And he scored again less than two minutes

later, when he finished a cross from Aldo Castillo.

The Rea fans erupted and cheered on their team, as most of the parents

shouted, “Vamos! Vamos! (Let’s Go! Let’s Go!).”

Santiago Garcia tied the game, 3-3, with his goal off a pinpoint pass

from Gonzales with three minutes left in the the first half.

In the 10th minute of the 30-minute second half, Jesus Garcia sent a

high, looping shot from about 20 yards out to put the Sharks up, 4-3. Six

minutes later, Santiago Garcia scored off a David Rosete assist, as the

Sharks grabbed complete control of the game. Santiago Garcia closed out

the scoring with his third goal, with four minutes left.

Rodrigo Rubalcaba led the Rea defense, which received strong support

from goalkeeper Kevin Madariaga. Raul Ayala set up the Rea offense with

solid touch passing, while Castillo displayed fancy dribbling skills.

Andersen, coached by King Nelson, was led by the trio of Stone, Nelson

and Ford. Mike Powell, Jarrett Logan, Brent Gray, Hunter Meece and

Dillion Campbell also helped the Andersen offense.

In the semifinals ... Rea defeated Our Lady Queen of Angels, 4-1.

Gonzalez scores two goals, while Canizales and Rosette collected one goal

each. Gonzalez and Castillo dished out two assists each.

Andersen defeated Kaiser (1), 4-0. The Dolphins built a 3-0 halftime

lead to cruise to victory. Stone and Nelson scored two goals each, and

Ford handed out four assists. Goalkeepers Peter Weidner, Dan Steele and

Emery Molnar recorded several key saves.