Rea gets fifth title in a row

Barry Faulkner

Whether it be its collective expectations or it’s method of attacking

opposing goalkeepers, the Rea Elementary fifth- and sixth-grade boys

soccer team has become known for shooting high.

The latter justified the former Sunday as the Sharks peppered the

upper portion of the net to earn a 9-4 victory over Harbor Day in the

Gold division final of the Daily Pilot Cup at the Costa Mesa Farm

Sports Complex.

It was the fifth straight fifth- and sixth-grade boys title for

Rea, though many believed this was the year that streak would end.

After his team was tied, 3-3, by Andersen in pool play, then

posted hard-fought wins in the quarterfinals (2-1 over Mariners

Christian) and semifinals (eliminating Andersen on penalty kicks

after a 2-2 regulation tie), veteran Rea Coach Gannon Burks admitted

this year’s unit lacked the air of dominance that has come to

surround the black-uniform-clad boys from Costa Mesa.

“We may not be as talented as we’ve been in the past, but these

kids worked hard,” Burks said before taking on a Harbor Day squad

that had outscored its first five opponents, 34-5.

Harbor Day, which had defeated the Burks-coached Rea No. 2 team,

8-1, earlier in the tournament, was poised to claim the school’s

first Pilot Pilot Cup title in any division.

The Seahawks, who advanced past Lincoln, 3-1, in the semifinals

Sunday morning, backed up that belief by taking just 20 seconds to

claim a 1-0 lead against Rea in the title game.

Colton Gyulay chased down a through ball and pumped it into the

net to open the scoring.

But if the Sharks were stunned or disheartened, it certainly

didn’t show.

They pulled even in the fourth minute, in fact, when Andrew

Guerrero leaped to deflect a Carlos Moreno corner kick off the goalie

and just over the goal line.

Rea scored again when Marco Jimenez launched a 30-yard blast into

the opposite upper corner.

But Harbor Day answered with a pair of goals to reclaim the lead.

Willie Moore sent a ball ahead that Chris Freeman chased down and

booted with his left foot off the inside of the right post to tie the

score in the 17th minute.

Moore then played the role of finisher by firing a right-footed

shot about 15 yards into the opposite corner for a 3-2 lead.

Moreno, who missed a penalty kick in the waning moments of

regulation in the semifinal, but redeemed himself by converting in

the penalty-kick shootout, then scored the first of his four

title-game goals to erase the Seahawks’ final lead in the 23rd

minute.

Moreno found the net from about 10 yards out with a wide open shot

after the ball caromed right to him following a scramble in front.

Moreno gave Rea a 4-3 halftime lead with another 30-yard blast

that sailed above the flailing Harbor Day ‘keeper in the 24th minute.

Rea led at halftime, despite playing against the wind and running

into the slightly uphill slope of the farm complex’s field No. 1.

The Sharks scored the first two goals of the second half. Another

long-range bullet from Moreno found the upper portion of the net,

then Marco Rodriguez knocked in a rebound off a shot by Guerrero that

left the goalie helplessly out of position.

Gyulay beat the Rea goalie to a loose ball and tapped it into the

open net to bring the Seahawks to within 6-4 in the 50th minute.

But Rea added two goals, with still more long-range accuracy by

Heriberto Aldaco and a short-range goal by Moreno, following some

nifty footwork to avert a defender.

“They had some great outside shooters,” Harbor Day Coach Bob Gorab

said of the Sharks. “They were very accurate today.”

Even Burks said he was surprised by the level of play his kids

reached in the title game.

“Our kids came alive,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it. And when

[the Seahawks] scored that early goal, I was a little worried.”

Burks’ concerns were diminished by his team’s strong defense,

anchored by marking backs Gilberto Garcia and Christian Becerra.

Goalie Rudy Reyes also played well for the Sharks.

Gyulay, Freeman, Moore, and Morgan Case were consistent catalysts

for the Seahawks, who also received strong play from Blake Thomsen

and Jack Gorab, among others.

Rea’s championship included contributions from high-scoring

striker Martin Garcia, Carlos Becerra, Arturo Jimenez, Jonathan

Diego, Eddie Burciaga, Alan Anaya and Pablo Henriquez.

Harbor Day’s run to the final was also fueled by Jonathan Keedy,

Chris Barwick, Jack Percival, Ford Hanour, Joshua Harrison, Alex

Grody and Will Morrow.

Tom Gyulay served as an assistant coach for Harbor Day.

Helping Burks, who is also the boys soccer coach at Estancia High,

were Rea products and current Estancia varsity players Pedro Duarte,

Marcos Burciaga, Eric Duarte and Adrian Jimenez.