YOUTH SPORTS

SOCCERThe two local teams battled to a stalemate on Jan. 20 in the second week of Area Q all-star regional competition. Newport’s Michelle Brookes, Sara Bradbury, Taylor Harrison and Brenda Torres controlled the midfield for much of the game. Newport forwards Gigi Light, Britney Myers and Stephanie Joyce had chances but couldn’t score past CdM’s solid defense. Newport’s defense of Sara Hamilton, Elyssa Barnett, Jamie Darling and Caroline Johnson allowed no shots on goal.

AYSO Area Q

Region 97

Girls under-12 Gold all-stars

Newport Gold 0, Corona del Mar 0:

Newport Gold 2, South Irvine 1: Newport took a 2-0 lead in the first half, on two midfield goals from Taylor Harrison in the second quarter. In the second half, the windy conditions favored the undefeated South Irvine team, but they could only manage one goal late in the fourth quarter. Newport goalies Gigi Light and Stephanie Joyce stopped several second-half shots to preserve the win.

Newport Gold 2, Tustin 0: Midfielder Jamie Darling scored both Newport goals in her team’s first game on Jan. 27. Forwards Gigi Light, Stephanie Joyce, Taylor Harrison and Britney Myers also had plenty of scoring opportunities, helped by the solid midfield play of Darling, Sarah Bradbury, Gina Scholey and Brenda Torres.

Newport’s strong defense of Sara Hamilton, Caroline Johnson, Elyssa Barnett and Selena Schroeder continued to play effectively, allowing few Tustin shots on goal.

Newport Gold 1, Yorba Linda/Placentia 0: Newport’s Brenda Torres scored a breakaway goal late in the first half for the game’s only score. After a slow start, Newport played stronger in the second half, as midfielders Sara Bradbury, Jamie Darling and Gina Scholey allowed scoring opportunities for forwards Gigi Light, Britney Myers, Taylor Harrison and Stephanie Joyce. Newport defenders Selena Schroeder, Elyssa Barnett, Sara Hamilton and Caroline Johnson shut out the opponent for the fourth time in six games.

Girls under-10 Gold all-stars

Newport Beach Breakers 3, South Irvine 1: Kekai Whitford got the Breakers going on Jan. 27, scoring a first-quarter goal off Gigi Woodall’s pass. Whitford added a second-quarter goal, with the assist coming from Emma Griffith, and Toni Holland scored off a third-quarter corner kick to finish the scoring. Strong defensive play from Jordan Blanchfield, Grace Clemence and Holly Clemence kept the Breakers in South Irvine territory the entire game.

Newport Beach Breakers 3, Corona del Mar 1: Peyton Espley-Jones opened the Breakers’ scoring, finishing off a cross from Kekai Whitford. Toni Holland scored a second-quarter goal to give the Breakers a 2-1 halftime lead, and Lindzy Konrad scored a third-quarter goal to ice the game for the unbeaten Breakers.

Emily Goltz had her best game of the season, making solid decisions in goal. Lauren Loucks and Emma Griffith had several attacks on the Corona del Mar goal as the Breakers dominated ball possession.

AYSO Region 57The Falcons continued their winning streak with a decisive shutout over Irvine. Scoring for Corona del Mar were forwards Brenna Currey, Anneleise Johansson and Katherine Hess. A strong defense led by Abigail Klein, Madison Binder, Julia Mouchawar, and Lauren Kobayashi ensured the shutout. Midfielders Payton Carter, Arabella Watkins, and Ally Hadfield kept the pressure on Irvine and aggressive goaltending by Brooke Beyrooty sealed the win.

Girls under-10 Silver all-stars

Corona del Mar Falcons 6, Irvine 0:

Club soccerMKSC wins title: The Newport Beach-based MK Soccer Club team won the Irvine Winter Classic tournament on Jan. 20, beating the Mission Viejo Pateadores Blue, 4-1, in the boys’ under-13 championship game. Peter Marquez scored twice in the championship, and Austin Armer and Caleb Candelaria added goals. Marquez, Candelaria, Armer, Matt Laughlin and Drake Dunn had assists.

Irvine Winter Classic

Boys under-13

MKSC went 2-1 in pool play games. In the first game, MKSC beat the TVSA Hawks, 3-1, with goals by Marquez (two) and Candelaria and assists by Connor Morrill and Dunn. In their second game, MKSC tied the Santa Monica United, 0-0, as goalies Steve Barrera and Johnny Garcia stood tall.

MKSC beat La Habra United, 2-1, in its third pool-play game. Marquez scored on Tanner Grandstaff’s assist, and Dunn added a goal off a free-kick assist by Marquez.

Also contributing to the MKSC championship win were Drew Blumenthal, Dara Diba, Matt Francini, Blake Myers, Kent Smith, David Vorona and Eric Zamucen. Bahman Zamanian and Ali Diba coached the team.

The MK Soccer Club is named after the club’s director of coaching Mohammad Khakpour, a former Olympic gold medalist for Iran and a former Major League Soccer player.

National Junior BasketballThe Tigers picked up their second win of the season by downing the Red Storm on Jan. 28. Justin Ruffalo played his best game of the season and scored 18 points in the win, while the Tigers’ Spencer Rautus added 13 and Austin Mahaffey added 11.

Newport-Mesa Division I boys

Tigers 46, Red Storm 42:

The Red Storm kept the game close throughout and were led by Zach Asdourian, Jake Comer, Trace Curet, Matt LeValley and Chris Piggott.

Spartans 26, Bruins 24: The Spartans (6-1) were led by the strong play of Cody Caldwell, who totaled 10 points, nine rebounds and six blocks in a close win on Jan. 28. The Spartans defense held tough in the end with Keaton Phillips, Henri Crockett, Skyler Garn, Zach Melmet and Kyle Orton leading the way. The Bruins matched the Spartans’ intensity throughout and were led by Andrew McCormack with 10 points, 13 rebounds and three steals.

Taylor Wildman also played well in the loss with five points and six steals.

Waves 47, Wildcats 36: The Waves continued their undefeated season by taming the Wildcats by 11. The Waves (7-0) were led by the strong play of Alex Turney with 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals, while Adam Spies added eight points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Dylan Pievac and Reid Johnson played tough defense throughout and combined for 25 points, eight rebounds and eight steals. Garrett Keillor, Shawn Farsai and Jake Arnett all played well in the win. The Wildcats were paced by Tanner Trauthen’s 10 points, Ron Ayzin’s nine points and Armon Alaghband’s seven points.