Keddington enjoys big day for Lincoln

Melanie Neff

Carter Keddington may be only in second grade, but he was the big man

on the field Friday for Lincoln No. 2’s third- and fourth-grade boys

soccer team in Pool E of the Daily Pilot Cup at the Costa Mesa Farm

Complex.

Keddington, one of four second graders on the team, scored his

team’s first four goals and Lincoln, who had a two-man advantage the

entire game, went on to defeat Kaiser, 11-1.

It was a big boost for Lincoln after getting beat, 7-0, by

Mariners on Thursday.

Keddington controlled the first 15 minutes of the game. Two of his

goals came as he took the ball from midfield and dribbled all the way

in before scoring. His final goal came on a breakaway.

Keddington gave Lincoln a 2-0 lead before Trevor Magana scored the

only goal of the match for Kaiser.

After Keddington’s fourth goal, Coach Alex Francini decided that

was enough and moved Keddington to defense, but that didn’t stop

Lincoln’s offensive pressure.

Second-grader Andy Doka took over and scored the next two goals to

give Lincoln a 6-1 lead. Second-grader Eli Kiani sent a perfect cross

to Doka in the middle for his first goal and Caiden Stark dumped a

pass to Doka in front of the goal for his second.

Trying to share the wealth among his team, Francini again made

some moves rotating his forwards to defense.

Stark, with a defender giving chase, popped a perfect shot up over

goalkeeper Ryan Cerrato’s head for his only goal to make the score

7-1. Stark then added his second of three assists when he passed the

ball to Connor Maloney, who squeezed the ball just inside the post

for an 8-1 lead.

Fourth-grader Shane Corwin, playing in his first soccer game,

scored a goal off a cross from Stark to give Lincoln a 9-1 advantage.

Matt Francini and Kiani rounded out Lincoln’s scoring.

Cerrato, who got pummeled by shots the entire match, made two

impressive diving saves for Kaiser and finished with 12.

Lincoln finished the tournament 1-1 in pool play. Kaiser went 0-2.