Angels reach new heights

COSTA MESA ? One Newport Heights Elementary shot went just wide of the goal late in the girls’ fifth- and sixth-grade Daily Pilot Cup Gold Division championship game.

Then another. Then another.

Our Lady Queen of Angels players, coaches and fans let out a sigh of relief when the whistle blew, holding on for a 2-1 victory.

“I was really tired and they were playing pretty well,” Angels stopper Claire McKinnon said. “I was getting pretty scared, but we just used teamwork to win. I think we did well.”

Two first-half goals by Our Lady Queen of Angels eventually held up.

About 10 minutes into the game, there was a scramble in front of the net following an Angels’ free kick. Allyson Bernardy got to the ball and booted it in, giving the Angels a 1-0 lead.

The score stayed the same until the 24th minute, when August Touchard’s long, lofting shot went over the goalie for a 2-0 Angels’ advantage.

OLQOA took that lead into halftime, but Newport Heights began trying to chip away as soon as the second half started.

First it was forward Josie Jogwe, who made a long run down the left side just as the half started but couldn’t get a shot away.

Three minutes into the half, Newport Heights’ Claire Castillo had a free kick that bounced off the post.

And nine minutes in, Jogwe finally got on the scoreboard with a straight-away shot that found the left side of the net.

“Our girls played real well,” Newport Heights assistant coach Bart Evans said. “The girls were in it the whole time, we just didn’t convert our opportunities.”

Castillo’s shot with seven minutes to go just missed wide left, but McKennon almost scored moments later on the other end.

Newport Heights goalie Layne Moore, playing up, raced back and snatch the ball just before it crossed the goal line.

With five minutes to go, Castillo had another shot that missed just wide left.

“The pressure they were putting on us was unbelievable,” Angels Coach Mike Perez said. “They were just relentless. We haven’t seen that kind of pressure in the tournament.

“I have to hand it to our girls, though. They hung in tough.”

Soon, the Sharks had run out of time, and Our Lady Queen of Angels hung on for the narrow victory.

Bernardy said the team chemistry was part of the reason his team won.

“We’re all really good friends, and we all work together really well,” she said. “Most of us have been together since preschool.”

Perez said it was that kind of cohesive unit that made the team so fun to coach.

“We knew if Our Lady was ever going to have a shot, this would be the year,” he said. “The girls just get along together so well.

Also playing well for the Angels were Elisabetta Impagliazzo, Caroline Strom, Shannon Griffin, Shelby Perez, Niki Zak, Taylor Rule, Avery Taylor, Christina Page, Hannah Bannan and Hannah Harold.

Goalie Adrianna Wetherall made 10 saves for the Angels.

“I thought we played really well,” Impagliazzo said. “Even though they scored in the second half, we didn’t let down.”

Also contributing for Newport Heights were Holly Patrick, Madison Mastera, Sophie Evans, Remy Pascine, Jenna Castillo, Peri Howser, Drue Cummins, Allie Pantoskey, Bailey McDaniel, Courtney Buck and CeCe Beck.

The Sharks’ goalie, Moore, had a busy day and helped keep it close by making 18 saves.

“I think our defense definitely kept us in the game,” Bart Evans said. “It’s a tough tournament and a lot of teams wanted to be where we were. They’re champs to make it that far.”

Our Lady advanced to the title game with a 4-0 semifinal win over Kaiser on Sunday.