Girls’ 3-4 Gold Division: Mariners wins in PKs
The Mariners Elementary girls’ third- and fourth-grade Gold Division team went its first 200 minutes at the Daily Pilot Cup without allowing a goal.
But two minutes into the title match, Kaiser third-grader Avery “A.J.” Muir changed that. She shocked the Marlins, giving the Knights the early lead Sunday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex.
“I think [the girls] were a little stressed,” Mariners Coach Brett Hlista said. “They haven’t been down before. In fact, they actually scrimmaged Kaiser twice before the tournament, and hadn’t let in a goal then either. It’s basically been [six] games without a goal, so yeah, they were shaken up.”
Mariners actually was behind much of the way in the title match, but found a way to win in the shootout, 5-4, after the teams played to a 2-2 tie through regulation.
“It felt good,” said Mariners forward Sammy Forbath. “It was really exciting because it was a tough game, so it was exciting to get it.”
Mariners can thank Forbath for sending the game to penalty kicks. With five minutes left in regulation, a corner kick by Mariners’ Avery Wolfe led to a Kaiser handball in the box. Forbath converted the penalty kick, and the game was tied.
“I do that every time,” Forbath said with a giggle of her placement on the penalty kick, into the upper-left corner.
The shootout began, and Mariners went first. Forbath, Wolfe, Ally Thomas, Reese Hlista and Kate Kubiak all made their kicks in the shootout, keeping the pressure on Kaiser. The Knights responded through the first four rounds, as Camryn Netzer, Sadie Hoch, Emma Garrido and Muir all converted.
But the fifth kick was wide left past Mariners goalie Kubiak, and the Marlins had the title.
Kubiak played goalie in the shootout after Ellie Robinson manned the position during regulation, making a couple of saves.
“I was nervous,” said Kubiak, who played at center midfielder throughout the game, of playing goalie in the shootout. “I just went in.”
Added Wolfe: “[Kubiak] convinced our coach. And then she was like, ‘Ellie, please!’”
Mariners never led in regulation, but did respond after Muir’s early strike by Kaiser. Mariners tied the score midway through the first half. Kaiser goalie Kylie Trigo, who made big plays throughout the game and finished with 12 saves, did well to stop Forbath’s shot from the left. But Reece Hlista scored on the rebound, evening the score at 1-1.
Kaiser would retake the lead, 2-1, just before halftime, when Netzer’s free kick led to a Mariners hand-ball at the top of the box. Netzer also put away the ensuing penalty kick.
“At halftime, they were upset,” Brett Hlista said of his players. “We just had to tell them, ‘Look, you have another half left, keep your head up.’ Nothing good is ever easy.”
Most of the second half was spent in the Kaiser end, but the defense led by Netzer, Julie Richardson and Sadie Simon thwarted numerous attempts until the late penalty kick sent the game to the shootout. There, Mariners found a way to win.
“It feels so good,” Wolfe said. “I’m kind of shocked. I knew we had a great team, but I wasn’t expecting this.”
Mariners had edged Andersen, 1-0, in the semifinals on a late goal by Kate Leibe. Wolfe and center back Thomas led the defensive effort for Mariners, which also got contributions from Amelia Garza, Ella Knox, Maia Schimmelpfennig and Alyssa Altobelli. Reese Hlista, Garza and Knox were the three third-graders on the team.
Other contributors for Kaiser included Lucy Toohey, Mia Grieg-Regan, Ailis Alarcon and Krystal Garzilaro. Muir and Alarcon had each scored two goals in a 4-0 semifinal win over Pegasus earlier Sunday.
“My girls all played well as a team, and Mariners played good too,” Kaiser Coach Betsey Garrido said. “I think it was two evenly matched teams, and that’s why it came down to what it did. It was just a great game.”
