Girls take title

The North Huntington Beach Futbol Club’s NHB Black, a girls’ Under-11 team, went on the defensive last weekend to win the Long Beach Pyramid Cup soccer tournament.

NHB Black recorded three shutouts in group play to reach the championship match, where they also pinned a shutout on the Long Beach Soccer Club, 6-0, to win the title.

NHB opened group play by with a 4-0 win over the Long Beach Heat. Alex Karlow scored twice to lead the offense which also received goals from Kendra Koelsch and Kayla Wigney. Raya Young, Carolyn Archer and Emily Vanasse also keyed NHB’s offensive attack. Lindsey Archer, Sarah Shklanko and Christina Sanchez provided defensive pressure up-front, which allowed keeper Penny Roman to record the shutout.

NHB’s second tournament match came against another Huntington Beach team, South Coast Bayern. NHB beat the heat and their in-city rival, 5-0. Goals were scored by Karlow, Koelsch, Wigney, Vanasse and Kirstyn Nold. Janae Megorden also contributed on the offensive attack and Kristen Shklanko, Madison Gioia helped out on the defensive end. Roman had her second shutout.

NHB moved on to the division final after blanking SC Storm of Aliso Viejo, 3-0, in its third match. Katie Gainous scored to give NHB a 1-0 lead and Vanasse and Wigney scored later in the match.

In the division final, Wigney converted a corner kick by Sanchez into the first score of the match. Shortly after, Young sent a long goal into the net to give NHB a 2-0 halftime edge.

NHB poured it on in the second half, getting two goals by Gainous and one each by Wigney and Sanchez.

NHB is coached by Daniel Montoya, assistant Eddie Sanchez and manager Pat Archer.