A victory for Victoria

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COSTA MESA — For many of the boys from Victoria and Sonora elementary schools, the nerves were at an all-time high.

Tuesday was their first organized soccer experience. For many in this third- and fourth-grade bronze division game, this was their first time in the Daily Pilot Cup.

Bryan Vivar made quite the debut, leading Victoria’s B squad to a 3-0 win over Sonora B at Costa Mesa High.

Vivar’s performance was one of many highlights during the opening day of the huge youth soccer tournament in its 10th year. Close to 2,000 children, along with throngs of parents and teachers took up the area in and around the Costa Mesa Farm Complex, Costa Mesa High and Davis Elementary.

The Daily Pilot Cup has come a long way since 2000. Back then there were around 30 teams. Now, it’s at the largest ever, 191 teams.

They’re all vying to reach Championship Sunday, as they started with pool-play games Tuesday.

Vivar had his Victoria team looking like a champ. Of course that came after a scoreless first half. Nevertheless, Vivar netted two goals. Josue Miranda, who had hit the post and was stuffed on a breakaway in the first half, came through for Victoria’s final goal with less than two minutes remaining.

Victoria Coach Michelle Thrall, a teacher at the school, did her best to substitute players throughout the game so that everyone received experience. She stressed the fundamentals and teamwork during their first practices and she has watched the team improve.

“They didn’t know how to dribble, they didn’t have cleats, it’s been a big improvement from the first practice,” said Thrall, who also noted Vivar’s confidence entering Tuesday’s game against Sonora.

“He told me he would get three goals,” Thrall said.

He came up one short, mainly because Sonora goalie Ben Swanson was stuffing so many shots. He was a big reason for the scoreless first half. He was making all of those saves in front of his No. 1 fan, his mother, Katrina Foley, the Costa Mesa Councilwoman.

“This is so fun because he loves playing soccer,” Foley said of Ben. “And, now he gets to play with his classmates and represent his school.”

In addition to the camaraderie, there are also times when the community comes together for the tournament. Several of the players from both teams lacked the proper equipment to play soccer, but sponsors and other people stepped up to help them out.

One of the Victoria players on Tuesday did not have long enough socks to cover his shin guards and the referee asked him to sit out. But Casey Swanson, Foley’s husband, left to go home a block away to get the kid a pair of socks.

Foley then put them on the boy so he could continue playing.

“It takes a village,” Foley said with a chuckle.

That appears true, even at the Daily Pilot Cup.