Carden Hall erupts for 7-0 victory

Steve Virgen

For the first 17 minutes, the Newport Heights girls fifth- and sixth

grade soccer team stuffed Carden Hall in a pool-play game in the

fifth annual Daily Pilot Cup.

But it seemed to be only a matter of time before the high-powered

Eagles came alive and showed the stuff that made them champions last

year.

Sixth-grader Lauren Draganza scored four goals, including three in

Carden Hall’s pivotal charge late in the first half, leading the

Eagles to a 7-0, gold-division win over Newport Heights on Wednesday

at the Costa Mesa Farm Complex.

Draganza, who said she is playing in the Pilot Cup to have fun and

to win another championship, was not worried when the Eagles went

scoreless through the first 17 minutes.

“I usually know that we are going to score because we have such a

good team,” Draganza said.

The Newport Heights Sharks showed they were just as good, early in

the first half. But Gillian Hogan scored for the Eagles and opened

the proverbial floodgates.

“I was very concerned,” Carden Hall Coach Barb Yeager said of the

action early in the first half. “They did a good job of plugging up

the box. But we started to pass to the wings and get it to the center

halfback. Gillian Hogan got it started for us.”

After Hogan’s goal, Draganza put in three of her own within the

final three minutes before halftime. In the 22nd minute, Alison

Gordon fired off a direct kick from midfield. The ball bounced off

the Newport Heights’ goalie and Draganza put it away to give the

Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Then, two minutes later, Draganza weaved her way through the

Sharks’ defense and scored from about 10 yards out. With less than

five seconds remaining before halftime, Draganza got behind the

defense and scored again.

She found the back of the net for her fourth goal seven minutes

into the second half. Caroline Hardenbergh scored on an assist from

Claire Layton, while Bianca Posey capped the scoring in the 46th

minute.

Carden Hall improved to 2-0 in its pool and have outscored

opponents, 11-0. The Eagles outshot Newport Heights, 26-2. Both of

the Sharks’ shots came in the second half. Newport Heights goalie

Delaney Waire recorded 15 saves.

“They just executed and played as a team,” Sharks Coach Keith More

said of the Eagles. “I thought we could hold them, even after they

scored. But then they had those three quick goals and that really

changed the game. They are a very a good team.”