Mariners Christian ends Rea reign

COSTA MESA ? It has been a while, but there’s a new champion in the boys’ fifth- and sixth-grade Gold Division at the Daily Pilot Cup.

Mariners Christian struck early in the championship game, scoring three goals in the first half and beating TeWinkle, 4-1.

TeWinkle had beaten five-time defending champion Rea by an identical 4-1 score in the semifinals on Sunday morning, making TeWinkle the talk of the tournament.

But when the Trojans got to the final, they were overwhelmed early by a determined Dolphins squad.

“We heard that TeWinkle came out super aggressive against Rea,” said Mariners Christian Coach Phil Miller. “We usually do that, too.”

Three minutes in, the Dolphins showed they meant business with an impressive sequence. Connor Cruse saved the ball at the sideline and forwarded it ahead to Jack McBean, who beat a couple of defenders.

TeWinkle expected McBean to shoot, but instead he unleashed a cross to Timmy Root, who knocked the ball in at the left post.

“I think we played really well,” said Root, part of an experienced team constructed almost entirely with sixth-graders. “We played as a team and everybody passed around and gave good balls.”

Root was pushed in the 18-yard box in the fourth minute of the game, giving Mariners Christian a free kick. McBean put it in, giving the Dolphins an early 2-0 lead.

Mariners scored again in the 29th minute, as Root’s pass from the left side went through a defender’s legs and found McBean near the right post. He blasted it into the left corner of the net, helping the Dolphins to a 3-0 halftime lead.

“Mariners just had a lot of strength,” TeWinkle Coach Bob Knapp said. “My hat’s off to [the Dolphins]. They deserve a lot of credit.”

The Trojans, to their credit, refused to fall quietly. Two minutes into the second half, Baggio Dominquez had one of the Trojans’ first hard shots on goal.

Three minutes after that, Peter Marquez’ slicing corner kick went off the hands of the Mariners’ goalie and into the net, cutting the lead to 3-1.

But midway through the half, McBean supplied the finishing touches when his long shot found the left corner of the net. He raised his fists, knowing that victory was close.

“We’re used to playing Rea, and they’re a good team, so we knew that [TeWinkle] would be good,” Root said. “We just came out really hard and with high intensity.”

The Dolphin sixth-graders leave quite a legacy at the Daily Pilot Cup. They also won the third- and fourth-grade Gold Division title in 2003 and 2004.

Miller and Co-Coach Steve Cruse credited defenders Derek Dellinger, Steven Miller and Greg Allen for their solid play all tournament long.

Chris Sheppard had to make just five saves in the championship game.

“They were like a rock on defense,” Miller said. “They were steady and they didn’t panic. Luke Langdon was also incredible. He just ran and ran and ran.”

Also helping the champions were Robert Gordon, Madding Jackson, Daniel Gills, Brent Lawson and Daniel Toberty.

For TeWinkle, forward Ezequiel Villegas came on strong at the end of the tournament, scoring a hat trick in the semifinal win over Rea.

TeWinkle’s Wesley Pena had a very busy day in goal, making 15 saves, 11 in the first half.

Also playing well for TeWinkle were forward Guillermo Madrigal, midfielder Carlos Barrios, fullbacks Fabian Martinez and Jacob Knapp and sweeper Max Hume.