Another title bid for Rea

Rick Devereux

The Rea boys third- and fourth-grade boys Gold division team used

Saturday’s semifinal against Lincoln as a return to form as the

Sharks controlled the contest, 6-1.

“We came ready to play,” Coach Ryan Baker said. “A lot of these

kids have brothers on the fifth- and sixth-grade team and know what

it takes to win.”

Rea, which has won the past four fifth- and sixth-grade

championships in the Daily Pilot Cup, has been eliminated in the

semis the past two years in the 3-4 division.

Baker said a commitment to practice has been the biggest factor in

the team’s improvement from last year.

It also helps to have Eric Salgado and Gustavo Venegas playing on

your side.

Salgado had two goals in the first half and Venegas scored twice

early in the second. Geovani Vivas scored on a rebound from a Salgado

shot late in the first half and Daniel Jimenez added a second-half

goal for Rea.

“Eric was on fire,” Baker said. “He has a brilliant left foot and

is one of the best players in this division.”

Rea had an aggressive offense that put pressure on the Lincoln

defense. Lincoln goalkeeper Erik Cervetlik made several outstanding

saves, but the Sharks constant pounding was too much.

“I’m as proud as I can be of my boys,” Lincoln Coach Alex Francini

said. “The effort we put forth was excellent. [Rea] has excellent

ball control skills and they are playing real good soccer.”

The lone bright spot for the Leopard offense was when Eli Kiani

tied the game 1-1 in the seventh minute when he lifted a shot from

about 25 yards out.

Rea had a goal disallowed in the 18th minute due to offsides, but

Vivas scored on a rebound three minutes later to give the Sharks a

3-1 halftime lead.

Rea was led by Salgado, Venegas, Vivas, Jimenez, Junior Dominguez,

Johnathon Aldaco, Erick Hernandez, Alex Esquivel, Danny Gonzalez,

Miguel Villanueva, Victor Rodriguez, Alex Duarte and Fernando Garcia

with Osiel Porcayo in goal.

The Sharks will face Mariners Christian today at 2 p.m. in the

final. Both teams are 5-0, having gone undefeated in pool play.