Breakers win Sun & Surf title

The Newport-Mesa Breakers, a soccer club team consisting of 9- and

10-year-old girls from Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, captured the

Long Beach Sun & Surf International girls under-10 division title

after winning six straight games in Long Beach, August 2-4.

The Breakers won their third straight tournament of the summer and

they remained undefeated, with a record of 17-0-0.

In the final, the Breakers defeated So Cal United, 5-2. The

Breakers reached the title game after finishing first in their pool

and posting a 3-2 semifinal win, while So Cal United had advanced

with an overtime semifinal victory over the So Cal Blues.

Anna Venturini gave the Breakers a 1-0 lead off an assist from

Josie Jogwe. The Breakers’ lead increased to 2-0 when Sierra Gordon

laced a shot into the net after some creative dribbling.

But United came back and tied the score, 2-2, early in the second

half. However the Breakers’ defense stiffened behind the goalie play

of Lauren Terry and the offense came alive with two more goals from

Venturini and one from Rachel Kerce, leading the Breakers to their

third title of the summer.

In order to reach the final, the Newport-Mesa club team had to

record a 3-2 hard-fought semifinal victory over the Santa Ana

Strikers. Kerce gave the Breakers an early 1-0 lead with a beautiful

left-foot laser that beat the keeper at the near post. The Strikers

answered with a conversion on a corner kick and the teams were tied

1-1 at halftime.

In the second half, Claire Castillo converted an indirect kick

just outside the penalty area, giving the Breakers a 2-1 lead.

Venturini increased the lead to 3-1 when she received a through ball

from Courtney McIntosh, beat the sweeper with a lace cut and knocked

a shot inside the near post. Brooke Lux, Shanay Fischer and Castillo

held off a furious rally from Santa Anita to secure the win.

The Breakers also scored pool-play victories over Crescenta Valley

soccer club, 3-1, and So Cal United, 7-2. Then they edged West Coast

Premier, 3-2. Terry stopped a penalty kick on the game’s final play

to ensure the win.

The Breakers wrapped up first place in pool play with a 6-1

victory over San Diego Spirit.