Carden Hall advances to today’s semifinals

Rick Devereux

Carden Hall advanced to the semifinals by holding on to a 2-0 victory

over Kaiser Saturday at the Costa Mesa Sports Farm Complex. First

half goals by Gillian Hogan and Lauren Draganza were enough for the

Eagles.

“I thought Kaiser played great. I was nervous,” Carden Hall Coach

Barbara Yeager said. “Every team at this point in the tournament is

strong.”

Kaiser took away a moral victory in the fact that it pushed the

Eagles to a worrisome state.

“Carden Hall have been the champs the last couple of years and I

respect them a lot,” Kaiser Coach Marco Argueta said. I am very

pleased with our showing here.”

In other girls 5-6 quarterfinals action:

* Mariners Christian 2, Newport Coast 1:

A ‘never give up’ attitude led to a spectacular ending Saturday

afternoon as Mariners Christian defeated Newport Coast in the girls

fifth- and sixth-grade gold quarterfinals at Costa Mesa Sports Farm

Complex.

Mariners Christian pressured for most of the game. Forward Katie

Deverian took a point-blank shot at the net but Newport Coast

goaltender Alexandra Reinach made the save. Deverian received a

crossing pass later and again blasted a shot from close range. But

once again Reinarch was in position to protect the net and preserve a

scoreless first half.

Helene Prioleau gave Mariners the lead in the second half when she

booted in a ball passed from Deverian on the right side. Prioleau had

another opportunity moments later when she gathered another pass

inside the penalty area and blasted a shot that hit the right goal

post.

With the victory seemingly in had with the time winding down,

Mariners Christian was content in playing keep away. However, Riley

Lazar wen on a breakaway up the left side of the field for Newport

Coast with less than five minutes to play. Lazar outraced the defense

and snuggled the ball inside the left post to tie the game, 1-1.

Avery Aimes made a late push for Mariners Christian up the left

side, but time expired before the threat could materialize, sending

the game into a best of five shootout.

Cynthia Bui aimed left and found the back of the net for Newport

Coast and both goaltenders made saves in the second round to give the

Coyotes a 1-0 lead. Francie Dellmaggiore tied shootout, going upper

left, and Sara McCutchen gave the Dolphins a 2-1 advantage as

goaltender Lindsay Anderson stopped the next two Newport Coast

shooters. Reinach blasted a goal to the lower left to tie the

shootout, but Deverian, the last Dolphin kicker, scored to the left

for Mariners Christian and Anderson preserved the win by stopping the

final shot.

It will be an all-Dolphins semifinal game this morning at 9 a.m.,

when Mariners Christian plays Andersen. The winner will play in the

championship match at 2 p.m.