St. Joachim dominates in opener

For a photo gallery of the first day of action, click here.

For video, click here.

COSTA MESA — With nothing else to do in the last 15 minutes, Brandi White grabbed a camera.

“How do I zoom?” she asked on the sideline.

Someone showed her how.

But White really didn’t need a close-up to see how dominant St. Joachim Parish School was in its opening-round soccer match at the Pilot Cup Tuesday.

St. Joachim stifled Kaiser Elementary B’s offense, earning a 5-0 victory in the girls’ third- and fourth-grade silver division at Costa Mesa High.

White played an instrumental role in the shutout coming during the first day of pool play at the ninth annual tournament, which features 164 teams with the championships set for Sunday.

“She really controlled the midfield,” said St. Joachim Coach Bill Lyon, who had two daughters in the match.

Both Kate and Elizabeth Lyon saw action, Kate seeing the most in the first 25-minute half.

In the second half Bill moved Kate to goalkeeper after she easily scored two of the team’s three goals in the opening half.

As the keeper, Kate rarely moved her arms, keeping them folded while standing far out of her goal.

Seeing Kate just stand around proved to be sort of a victory for Kaiser B. Kate was a force offensively, as she towered over everyone on the field.

“It was pretty tough,” Kaiser B defender Cameron Harper said of defending Kate. “But we tried not to fear her.”

Even without having to worry about Kate, Kaiser B faced other talented players.

Goalkeeper Clara Eddy had her hands full. She didn’t mind the shots coming from every which direction.

“Fun!” she said of turning back shots. “I think it was kind of easy for me.”

One of her biggest saves came in the 30th minute on a penalty.

White took the shot, but Eddy pushed it to her right and out of play, setting up a corner kick for St. Joachim.

Seven minutes later, Eddy pounced on a shot. She tried her best to slow down St. Joachim.

But Kaiser B Coach Nicole Dinatale knew St. Joachim featured too much talent. Her squad will try to win its first match when it plays today against Rea Elementary at Costa Mesa High on field No. 3 at 5:45 p.m.

Four players accounted for St. Joachim’s goals. Striker Emily Armijo scored the second goal, Sianna Siemonsma the fourth, and Elizabeth the fifth.

“They played like a team,” said Lyon, whose team plays Christ Lutheran today at Costa Mesa High on field No. 3 at 3:45 p.m. “That’s what really makes me the most happiest because we didn’t have any individual stars.”

Through the lens of the camera, White saw a cluster of stars on the field.

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