HB United grabs an overtime win, title

Connor Gordon scores only goal in 1-0 victory.The HB United came up with a big defensive effort to claim the AYSO Area 11K All-Star Under-10 Boys’ Silver Division championship.

While the defense was holding Region 117 scoreless, it took a goal from Connor Gordon, off an assist by Cooper Kossick, in the second overtime period to lift HB United to victory.

The win allowed HB United to avenge an earlier, 4-3 loss to Region 117. The team finished the tournament with a 5-2 record.

HB United is an under-9 team playing in an under-10 division.

Goalkeepers Garrett Babbitt and Grant Mooney were tough to penetrate during the tournament and posted five shutouts in seven games.

Defensive pressure throughout the tournament was supplied by sweeper Cole Rakhshani, Devin Anderson, Max Simon and Will Shepherd. Controlling the midfield were Daniel Neff, Jack Kerins, Hunter Kling and Grant Mooney.

HB United, which scored a tournament-high 23 goals, was led up front by Gordon, Kossick, Babbitt and Jake McKinley, who had 3 goals in an earlier tournament game. Gordon was the team’s leading scorer and was named captain for the championship game.

HB United is coached by Gary Kossick and Dan Kerins.

In girls’ club soccer:

South Coast Soccer Club Girls’ under-14 team, Code Red, opened its winter season by taking first place at the Junior United Soccer Assn. Freedom Cup tournament.

Code Red, which finished first in last year’s silver bracket, moved up to play this year at the silver elite level.

In tournament pool play on Saturday and Sunday, Code Red blanked all three of its opponents, defeating Fury Futbol Club Black by scores of 1-0 and 2-1 and Soccer Club Storm Blue, 1-0, and fighting to a scoreless tie against the Eagles.

The defensive play of Code Red sweepers Jodi Hwang and Nayely Alcala, fullbacks Erica Cabibbo, Rebecca Cruz and Kelly Mitsumori and stopper Nancy Mendez, turned away numerous offensive attacks by their tournament opponents.

Code Red 1, Fury 0

Daniella Yoguez scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal on a solo run in the second half.

Code Red 1, Storm Blue 0

Daniella Yoguez had a repeat performance against Storm Blue, as she scored the game-clincher in the second half. Her goal was set up by a header assist by Alison Hensley with 30 seconds left in the game.

Code Red 0, Eagles 0

In the last game of pool play, a match played in severe wind conditions, goalie Kathleen Messinger made a diving save to preserve the tie.

Code Red 2, Fury 1

In a wind-whipped, two-overtime final, Code Red played into the wind in the first half, gave up just one goal and trailed at the half, 1-0.

Changing sides following the break, Code Red’s offense, led by Kiley Cravens, Erika Longoria and Daniella Yoguez, mounted several scoring assaults.

Code Red finally cracked the scoreboard when Kellie Culbertson took a direct kick near midfield and sent the ball into the goal area. Longoria, a forward, flicked the ball into the goal to tie the score.

Following a scoreless first overtime period, Code Red, with the wind at its back, scored near the end of the second overtime when Kellie Culbertson put a corner kick in the goal area, and Andrea Ecker planted the ball in the back of the net to give Code Red the 2-1 victory and the championship.