Andersen connects in shutout

Bryce Alderton

Harbor Day Coach Jim Conner knew his team would have its hands full

even before the start of the girls fifth- and sixth-grade Gold

division semifinal of the Daily Pilot Cup Saturday against potent

Andersen at the Farm Sports Complex.

Conner was concerned about potentially tired legs after the

Seahawks tied Harbor View, 2-2, on a last-minute goal by Kathryn

Conner earlier in the morning to secure the quarterfinal berth.

And, after Andersen rolled to a 6-0 victory, Conner wasn’t about

to take any ounce of credit away from the victors.

Conner said it wouldn’t have made a difference if the Seahawks

hadn’t played a game earlier Saturday.

Turns out eight Andersen players competed in a swim meet earlier

in the day.

“Andersen is really strong,” Jim Conner said. “They are older and

are all club players.”

Andersen will face Mariners in one semifinal at 10:30 a.m. today at Farm field No. 2. The final is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the same

field.

Thirteen of Andersen’s 16 players are sixth graders and many have

played together in this tournament for the past three years. Andersen

won back-to-back third- and fourth-grade titles in 2002 and 2003.

“The girls ball handling is superb,” Andersen Coach Linda Craig

said. “They passed, talked and moved the ball so well.”

Andersen scored its first goal 10 minutes in and rattled off four

more to take a 5-0 halftime lead.

Jordan Dillion, one of two Andersen players -- Lindsey Luke is the

other -- who compete for the Newport Beach-based Slammers girls

under-12 club team ranked No. 1 in the state, scored Andersen’s first

two goals off assists from Anna Venturini.

Mary McKennon fed Zoya Mohan for a goal to put Andersen up, 3-0,

in the 18th minute. Less than a minute later, McKennon found McKenzie

Brown, who blasted a shot in from 16 yards out to up the lead to 4-0.

Sidney Raguse’s cross found the foot of Valerie Martin five

minutes later and Martin fired high into the net for the fifth goal.

Harbor Day goalkeeper Sarah Cox made four saves in the first half

before giving way to Jessica Beyer in the second half. Beyer made

three saves.

Martin capped the scoring in the 41st minute after taking a

centering pass while inside the 18-yard box and blasting it into the

net’s left side.

Andersen’s defense was boosted by sweeper Hannah Rome, along with

fullbacks Erin Almaraz and Katelyn Baker in front of goalkeeper Pippa

Saunders. Ellie Nadal eluded several defenders with her ball

handling.

Sarah Buckingham sent several balls the other way for Harbor Day

while teammates Ally Brahs and Kathryn Conner pushed the ball

upfield.

Ava Soleimany broke along the wing on one of Harbor Day’s few

trips into Andersen’s zone.

Jill St. Geme, Brooke Hanrahan and Sarah Craig added to Andersen’s

attack. Conner praised the defense of Corinne Damon along with the

play of Nikki Borchard. Paige Bowie, Sarah Buckingham, Kate Donahue,

Paulina Leach, Kaylee O’Connor, Catherine Sullivan and Kelsey Woo

contributed for Harbor Day.

Carden Hall defeated Davis, 2-0, in another quarterfinal. Tori

Browne and Mary Yeager scored the goals while Michelle Lancaster and

Alison Gordon tallied assists.

Carden Hall faces Kaiser in the other semifinal at 10:30 a.m. at

Farm field No. 1.