Slammers’ run comes to an end in regional tourney quarterfinals

The Newport Beach Slammers girls under-18 squad, which won the state

cup last month, reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Youth Soccer

Far West regional at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park in Honolulu,

Hawaii, Thursday.

The Slammers, which features recent Corona del Mar High graduates

Alivia Mazura, Lauren Shepherdson and Paige Janes, won their pool

with three victories in the tournament that started Monday. The

Slammers represented Southern California after winning the final in

the Premier Cup Championship in May.

The Slammers won their pool when Mazura scored the game-winning

goal after converting on a through ball with about 15 minutes left, leading the Slammers to a 2-1 victory over Washington on Wednesday.

The Pleasanton Rage, representing Northern California, defeated

the Slammers, 4-0, in a quarterfinal Thursday.

On Monday, the Slammers defeated Hawaii, 7-0, and they defeated

Alaska, 1-0, the following day. Shepherdson, who made her first

appearance since rehabilitating from a broken foot, recorded an

assist on the first ball she touched in the 20th minute against

Hawaii.