All-Star soccer teams win big
NHB Black, a local Under-10 boys’ club soccer team, won its division championship at the Irvine Winter Classic Soccer Tournament last weekend.
NHB defeated Force Soccer Club, 2-1, in the division final. The Force entered the final undefeated and had outscored its previous tournament opponents, 15-1.
NHB Black includes Joseph LaCasto, Paul Studer, Bridger Robinson, Cole Rakhshani, Garrett Babbitt, Jaiden Lottes, Julian Dietrich, Patrick Burciago, Will Shepherd, Nash Kucera, Jose Huerta, Sam Perruccio, Rory McFarland, Coach Fernando Moreno and Assistant Coach Steve Shepherd
The team next will compete at the State Cup tournament in February.
In girls’ AYSO soccer action:
Region 56
The Huntington Beach Futbol Club girls’ Under-10 All-Star team went 5-1 in Area 11K play and won its division championship.
Huntington defeated regions 177 (4-0), 1335 (5-2), 5 (2-1), 117 (5-1), 55 (2-1), and suffered their lone defeat to Region 143 (4-0).
The squad advances as area champion in upcoming Sectional play in February.
“The girls played incredible,” Coach Jill Bertotti said. “Even when we had a let down in the last qualifying match, the girls showed a lot of heart coming back and beating that same team in the championship game for a 4-0 victory.”
Goalies Sierra Rick and Alexyss Pawlak recorded several key saves throughout the tournament. The Huntington defense was led by Rachel Buyan, the midfield was controlled by Caroline Howe and the team’s top scorer was Taylor Conner.
Other members of the championship squad include Madelyn Hallstrom, Kayla DiSanzo-Pendleton, Delaney Cleveland, Grace Chen, Kimberly Graham, Brandi Hartman and Tatum Holdaway.
Region 55
HB Dynamite, a girls’ Under-12 team, won six of seven matches in Area 11K Gold All-Star Tournament play.
The two-weekend tournament, which concluded last weekend, included teams from Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Orange, Santa Ana and Long Beach.
The six Dynamite wins came by shutout. Leading the defense was Mallory Koci, sweeper Sydnie Dutra and fullbacks Kirstie Stangeland and Sydney Marks. The midfield was controlled by Anna Day, Jenna Peterson, Katie Gordon, Taylor Goodban, Janae Phariss and Drew Bradley.
Paving the way on offense were forwards Madison Koci, Diana Schwene, Alexa Vellanoweth and Dana Rutkin.
The Dynamite, coached by Marcus Bradley and Rick Day, went 10-1-1 during All-Star postseason play and could possibly earn a wild card bid to the upcoming Sectional tournament.
Red, White, Doom plays shutout ball
Red, White and Doom, an Under-12 All-Star team, went 1-0-1 in a pair of AYSO All-Star games played Saturday.
In its first game, Red, White and Doom battled Region 177 to a scoreless tie. In its final game that day, the team blanked Region 117, 3-0.
In the scoreless tie, Red, White and Doom’s defense was led by Jessica Johanscik, Kayla Winsatt and Simone Corkett, and halfbacks Regan Shaver and Amber Rodriguez. Goalie Afton Siegel saved every shot on goal.
In the 3-0 victory, Caroline Fowler scored off an assist from Kendyl Nowels to give her team a 1-0 halftime lead, then scored again in the second-half on a scoring play set up by Grace Khoury and Devon Graber.
Hannah Higginson scored on a breakaway later in the final half to complete the scoring.
Dana Conlisk, Morgan Renaud, and Cassidy Novkov played a tight game in the midfield and goalie Tana Moore made several mid-air saves to prevent Region 117 from scoring.
Red, White and Doom will continue All-Star tournament play on Feb. 3 at El Dorado Park in Long Beach.
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