Mariners OK with PKs

COSTA MESA — As if having former teammates playing against each other wasn’t dramatic enough, Mariners B and Christ Lutheran decided to have their fate rest with suspense-filled penalty kicks.

As the pulses of parents and players fluctuated, it was Mariners which rose when the dust settled to advance to the girls’ third- and fourth-grade Silver Division title match in today’s finale of the eighth annual Daily Pilot Cup. The Clemence twins, Holly and Grace, of Mariners played with Christ Lutheran’s Emma Griffith on the same Newport Mesa Soccer Club team.

“Not a bad way to end it,” Mariners Coach Mark Arblaster said smiling as he walked off the field.

At the end of regulation the score was tied, 2-2. Mariners’ Katya Farinsky and Holly Clemence made penalty-kick goals and Christ Lutheran missed four, providing Arblaster with an opportunity to exhale.

“I was just worried it wouldn’t work out, they would be so upset,” said Arblaster, also the director of the NMSC. “Now no matter what, we’re in the finals so win or lose it’s a success.”

While there was plenty of drama during the penalty kicks, there was also great emotion involved toward the end of regulation. Farinsky scored with 30 seconds left in regulation for the tie, 2-2, to force the penalty kicks.

Less than three minutes before that, Christ Lutheran’s Eliza Jason scored a go-ahead goal for a 2-1 lead.

As the game started, Christ Lutheran was all smiles as players danced around and held up signs that read “Go Knights!”

Mariners were outfitted with yellow bibs so they could be distinguished from the similar blue of Christ Lutheran.

Eliza Jason was aggressive early for Christ Lutheran in the first half.

Jason pushed the ball up the field and tried to knock several shots in the goal as fans cheered her on.

Mariners stayed active offensively as Lindzy Konrad pushed the tempo.

Stephanie Willett played goalie for Christ Lutheran while Amanda Buhl and Janie Hubbard anchored the defense.

Mariners tried to move the ball on offense, but couldn’t get past the teeth of the Christ Lutheran defense. Lauren Cocroft and Emma Griffith were active on the offensive end for Christ Lutheran.

The Clemence twins, Holly and Grace, displayed fancy footwork and excellent ball handling skills all game long for Mariners.

To close the half, Willett blocked a number of goal attempts by Mariners.

On one particular play, she was running off balance and just managed to save the ball before it could go in the goal.

The second half started with Stephanie Navarro pushing the ball for Mariners.

Konrad was trying to attack, but it would be Sammy Whitney who added the first score of the game on a powerful kick.

“[It felt] good,” Whitney said. “I wasn’t really expecting to make it.”

Just moments later, Emily Pavlik penetrated the Mariners defense and got a ball in the goal to even the score, 1-1.

Kathryn Arblaster had an impressive stop that received cheers from the Mariners sideline.

Jason continued her relentless offensive attack but nothing was getting past goalie Katie Conway. With the game coming to a close, Jason was able to get one when it mattered most, putting Christ Lutheran up 2-1.

Christ Lutheran took a sigh of relief due to the fear of the game coming down to penalty kicks.

“Yes [we took a sigh of relief] because I thought otherwise it was going to be penalty kicks, which is such a hard way to win or lose a game,” Christ Lutheran Coach John Jason said.

Reality started to set in for the parents on the sideline of the Mariners, their aspirations of making it to the championship game was coming to an end.

One parent suggested that Coach Arblaster pull the goalie to unleash an all-out offensive attack.

Arblaster decided against it, and then Farinsky scored to tie the game, 2-2, ending regulation and forcing penalty kicks.

“There was still two minutes to go so they [Christ Lutheran] could have had a breakaway,” Arblaster said. “I think it was two games ago; we scored with 20 seconds to go, so we’ve got it in us.

They’ve come from behind several times so our motto is ‘never give up.’ ”

At the end of regulation, each coach had the decision to choose five players who would take the shots.

“They all wanted to take a kick, which makes it hard,” Arblaster said. “So we kind of went with who was consistent.

Katya in goal was huge, she hasn’t played goal for us. She gets the game ball.”

Despite losing, the players of former champion Christ Lutheran weren’t about to feel sorry for themselves.

Jason said they were happy just to be able to compete.

“It’s great, it’s wonderful,” Jason said. “It’s the best soccer tournament we’ve ever played in.”

As for Mariners, it competes in the Silver Division championship today.

“We can beat anybody on any given day,” Arblaster said. “Just the fact that we got to the finals is a success.”

JASON KORNFELD may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at jason.kornfeld@latimes.com.