Angels no match for Ford

Rick Devereux

A goal in the first minute and two goals in the last three minutes

were the deciding factor as Andersen defeated Our Lady Queen of

Angels, 4-1, in the quarterfinals of the boys fifth- and sixth-grade

Gold division Saturday at the Costa Mesa Farm Complex.

Brennan Anderson lifted a goal over the goalkeeper’s hands in the

first minute for Andersen with Brian Ford getting credit for an

assist.

Both teams had scoring chances, but Andersen’s Emery Molanr and

OLQA’s Brenan Harms made several diving saves in goal to keep it 1-0

for most of the first half.

Anderson and Ford connected again in the 17th minute, this time

Anderson feeding a centering pass to Ford, who punched in the ball to

the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

OLQA’s offense pressed into the Andersen zone in the second half,

but Molanr again stifled any chances. Molanr received helped from his

defense when Spencer Ewles made a spectacular leaping save to kick

the ball away from a wide open net following a Molanr diving stop.

Michael Haeri put OLQA on the scoreboard in the 30th minute when

he sent Kent Smith’s corner kick into the goal.

The pressure OLQA’s offense sustained in the second half resulted

in two breakaway goals late in the game when Ford received a long

pass from Anderson and beat the goalkeeper in the 46th minute as well

as a deflected shot that went in for Ford in the 48th minute.

“A key play in the game was Spencer’s save,” Andersen Coach Dan

Ford said. “I think our defense played exceptionally well in the

entire game and Emery was great in goal. [OLQA] had the best team

defense we have faced.”

Andersen will face Rea in the semifinals today at 9 a.m.

* Harbor Day easily handled Kaiser, 10-2, in a boys fifth- and

sixth-grade Gold division quarterfinal game Saturday at Costa Mesa

Farm Complex.

Forward Chris Freeman had a hat trick in the first half before

switching to goalkeeper in the second for Harbor Day.

Colton Gyulay and Willie Moore each had two goals, with Jack

Percival, Mason Case and Blake Thomsen each getting a goal apiece.

Moore and Jack Gorab each had two assists with Case and Jonathan

Keedy adding an assist each.

David Martinez headed in a Spencer Rautus pass in the 44th minute

for Kaiser and Rautus scored an unassisted goal fro the left side in

the 49th minute.

Harbor will play Lincoln in a semifinal today at 9 a.m. The final

will be at 2 p.m.