Eastbluff tops Kaiser, nabs first Cup win

COSTA MESA — The last time Eastbluff A won a soccer match during the Daily Pilot Cup?

“We’ve never won a game. As long as I’ve been here,” Coach Glen Vogel said.

Vogel said he’s been around for a couple of years.

Now he can finally say Eastbluff’s a winner.

Vogel watched his third- and fourth-grade girls dominate their first pool play soccer match, a 3-1 win against Kaiser A, in the Gold Division at the Eighth Annual Daily Pilot Cup tournament Tuesday.

His daughter, J.J., scored two of the goals, the last two. The second one on the Costa Mesa Farm Complex was a beauty.

From the right corner of the box, she nailed a shot hitting the upper left corner of the net, putting Eastbluff ahead, 2-0, in the opening minute of the second half.

A big blow to Kaiser after watching Eastbluff control the match in the first half, playing it mostly on Kaiser’s side.

“They weren’t playing that good defense,” J.J. said.

Kaiser’s defense improved, allowing for some counterattacks.

Kaiser’s first scoring opportunity came four minutes before halftime. Its next one followed three minutes later, this time instead of the shot bouncing off the left post it went just wide right.

“We just need to come out a little more assertive,” said Kaiser Coach Andy Sheppard, whose team plays Our Lady Queen of Angels Thursday at 3:45 on field No. 4. “We got a great group of kids and I think we’ll rebound.”

Kaiser never quit in what Sheppard called a physical match.

After Vogel made it 3-1 Eastbluff in the 40th minute, Kaiser answered one minute later.

Kaiser received a direct free kick after a foul was called on Eastbluff. Haley Berg, from the left side of the box, delivered a crisp pass to a charging Toni Holland.

Holland put the ball into the back of the right side of net, cutting the deficit to two goals.

But with 11 minutes left, Eastbluff’s defense stopped Kaiser from attacking.

“Great supporting cast clogging up the middle,” said Vogel, whose team plays tonight against Our Lady Queen of Angels at 5:45 on field No. 4. “This is actually a pretty new team. These girls just got all together for this.”

A win is a good way to start things off.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.