Andersen revenge is sweet

COSTA MESA ? Just as halftime ended, the third- and fourth-grade boys from Andersen Elementary School huddled and bounced in unison, yet showed little enthusiasm.

Usually, these Dolphins are ecstatic when yelling out, “Ahhhhhhh!” But this time they were down and losing again to Harbor Day, which beat them on Thursday and had not allowed a goal in the Daily Pilot Cup going into Saturday’s semifinal.

The Andersen players could hardly scream. They needed something to lift their spirits.

It’s amazing what one goal can do.

Joey Martino’s direct kick from about 30 yards out was the first of three second-half goals Saturday, as Andersen continued its storybook run into today’s Gold Division championship with a 3-1 victory at the Farm Complex.

In the quarterfinals earlier in the day, Andersen ? a wild card ? captured a 4-0 victory over Rea, which won the division title last year.

But it seemed as if Andersen’s fairy tale was going awry against Harbor Day. Even the Dolphins’ hero was not confident during the intermission.

“I thought we were going to lose,” Martino said of his thoughts when the team bounced together and half-heartedly yelled. He said he definitely felt differently after his goal, which sailed over the keeper and into the net.

Martino raised his hands as his teammates celebrated around him.

Just three minutes later, Martino scored again on a penalty kick after the Seahawks were called for a hands violation in the box. The penalty came on a corner-kick sequence.

Ben Humphries put the game away with three minutes left, beating a defender to the ball, before the goalie could come out.

“I just told them to keep their heads up,” Andersen Coach Jon Johnston said. “They kept coming back. Soccer is funny that way, that you can get momentum on your side after a goal like that.”

Johnston said Jack Molnar and Bo St. Geme “played great defense,” as they helped keep track of Harbor Day’s Nick Sargeant.

Sargeant scored Harbor Day’s lone goal, connecting on a penalty kick after Braden Brahs drew a foul in the box with five minutes left in the first half.

But Andersen came alive in the second half after Martino’s goal.

“That goal got them to believe they could win,” Harbor Day Coach Paul O’Connor said. “It’s hard to beat a team twice in a tournament. They played with a lot of heart.”

Harbor Day shut out Kaiser, 5-0, to reach the semifinal.

Andersen will face Newport Coast for the championship today at 2 p.m.