NHB girls win tourney

North Huntington Beach soccer club, which hosted the 28th annual NHB Cup soccer tournament last weekend, won the under-11 girls’ championship by defeating Real So Cal of Calabasas, 2-0, on Monday at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex.

The tournament drew more than 120 girls’ soccer teams, from San Diego to Sacramento.

Monday’s championship game was all about defense in the first half of play, as the teams went into the break in a scoreless tie. But early in the second half, offensive efforts by Carolyn Archer, Emily Vanesse and Kendra Koelsch kept the pressure on the Real So Cal defense, which enabled Kayla Wigney to score the first goal of the match.

Late in the second half, a 30-yard free kick by Christina Sanchez sailed above the reach of the Real So cal goalie to clinch the victory.

NHB won its opening group play match against Tustin Premier Futbol Club on Saturday, 6-0. Raya Young scored late in the first half to make it 1-0, and Wigney took a pass from Katie Gainous to score just before halftime.

In the second half, Alex Karlowitsch set up Janae Megorden, who scored the third goal, Kaylyn Benzen scored to push the lead to 4-0 and Karlowitsch scored two unassisted goals to finish the scoring.

In the second group play match, NHB prevailed by a 2-0 score over the Spirit of ’96 Blue of Sacramento. Sanchez put NHB on the scoreboard when she sent a corner kick just past the goalie, and that 1-0 score stood at the half.

In the second half, the defensive efforts of Lindsey Archer and Sarah Shklanko helped turn away the Spirit of ’96 Blue’s offense. Another corner kick by Sanchez bounced around in front of the goal until Kirstyn Nold was able to push the ball into the net to make it 2-0.

A quarterfinal match against the San Bernardino Blast Soccer Club was next, and NHB came away with a 3-0 shutout win. Lisa Fast scored from 25 yards out for the first goal, Sanchez netted the second goal on a free kick and Karlowitsch later headed a corner kick from Sanchez into the goal for the final score of the game.

The defensive play of Madison Gioia and Kristen Shklanko helped goal keeper Penny Roman record her third straight shutout of the tournament.

NHB advanced to face a tough San Diego Surf squad in a semifinal match, and the host team emerged with a 2-1 victory that was decided on the final play of the match.

NHB took a 1-0 lead at the half after Young scored the only goal of the opening stanza. Midway through the second period, the Surf scored to tie the match.

With time winding down and facing the prospect of having to play a penalty kick shootout, NHB scored on the final play of the match when Sanchez connected on a direct free kick.

The 2-1 win sent NHB into the division final.

The NHB girls’ U-11 team, led by head coach Daniel Montoya, assistant coach Eddie Sanchez and manager Pat Archer, finished its summer tournament schedule with a 14-1 record. The squad won two tournaments and finished runner-up in another.