Leprechauns down Blue Knights in thriller

With the championship of the AYSO Region 143 boys’ Under-12

Division championship riding on the outcome, overtime was needed to

decide whether the Leprechauns or Blue Knights would leave the field

Saturday with the division crown.

It took an Alex Nordin goal off a cross assist from Brandon

Chadwick to deliver a 2-1 victory to the Leprechauns.

Chadwick also scored the Leprechauns’ first goal of the contest in

regulation play.

The win was the second of the day for the Leprechauns, who had

blanked the Red Hot Zebras, 3-0, in semifinal round action.

Goals were scored by Nordin, Ryan Struett and Andrew Shigemasa,

and Will Koon got the shutout in the net.

Ian Hatchard, Greg Henry, Carlos Licerio, Josh Martinez, Austin

McGroarty, Shane McElligott, Cameron Murphy, Erik Williams and Jake

Zylstra played key roles in both victories.

The Leprechauns, now 11-0, advance to the Area K playoffs in

January.

In girls’ AYSO Plus Program action:

HB Wipeout wins U-13 crown

HB Wipeout, a Region 55 (North Huntington Beach) squad playing in

the AYSO Plus Program at the under-13 level, won the division

championship Sunday by edging Newport Beach, 2-1.

Both goals were scored by mid-fielder Mariah Nogueira. Her first

goal came in the 15th minute, and her curving shot from just inside

the 18-yard box broke a tie game and gave HB Wipeout a 2-1 halftime

advantage.

The Wipeout entered the tournament with the division’s No. 1 seed,

having posted a 12-1 regular season record. In tournament pool play,

they defeated teams from Yorba Linda, North Irvine and South Irvine.

The Wipeout edged Mission Viejo, 1-0, in a semifinal showdown.

HB Wipeout is comprised of Nogueira, Kellie Cuadras, Alex Edwards,

Sara Foster, Jennifer Goble, Christina Kuehn, Colleen Kustura, Nikki

Lubby, Shima Nooryzadeh, Natalie Peterson, Yesenia Ocampo, Lauren

Palacio, Brianna Smith, Giana Sortino and Katie Welch.

Mike Edwards is head coach and Maggie Holland is assistant coach.