Soccer: Color Lincoln pink

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - After months of anticipation for the Daily Pilot Cup,

players on the fifth- and sixth-grade boys soccer team at Lincoln

Elementary finally got to see their jerseys.

While they might have been a little surprised by the team color

(pink), the Leopards showed their spots in the opening game of the third

annual tournament Wednesday in an 8-0 pool-play victory over the Newport

Elementary Tritons at Costa Mesa High.

“Our school liaison picked pink for our jerseys and our fourth graders

didn’t like them because they thought pink was for girls, but our sixth

graders thought it was pretty cool, because nobody would want to lose to

a team with pink shirts,” Lincoln Coach Jon Kottke said.

Newport, missing some key players because of a conflict with playoffs

in the Newport Harbor Baseball Association, and Lincoln will both play

St. John’s Friday in pool play at the Farm Field.

In the opener, Lincoln’s Mitch Williams netted three goals for his

first career hat trick, while Jordan Goulding added two goals and Morgan

Brombal three assists on the first five goals.

Lincoln’s Leopards, who won the fourth-grade division title in the

Cup’s inaugural year in 2000, built a 4-0 halftime edge after outshooting

the Tritons, 11-0.

“These kids get so excited about this (Daily Pilot Cup),” Kottke said.

“They play club soccer all year, but this is what they all talk about.

It’s amazing.”

Newport’s first-half goalie, Spencer Baratto, recorded three saves in

first six minutes and finished with four saves in the 25-minute half.

Victory Done had four goalie saves in the second half for Newport.

Lincoln, which outshot the Tritons in the second half, 16-0, took a

1-0 lead in the 10th minute on Williams’ first goal, then teammate Paolo

Iaccarino scored in the 11th minute on a long free kick from Brombal.

In the 15th minute, Williams scored again, when he booted a floater

from just inside the 18-yard box that tipped off the goalie’s fingertips

and gave Lincoln a 3-0 lead.

“I liked the goal that went over the goalie,” Williams said, when

asked which of the three goals were his favorite.

Carl Waniek scored in the 23rd minute for Lincoln, then Williams was

back in the scoring column in the second half, after taking a cross from

Brombal in the 34th minute. Jacob Goulding scored two minutes later to

give Lincoln a 6-0 lead. Jordan Goulding scored his team’s final two

goals.

“They clearly had their best players at the schools,” Newport Coach

Ian Stevenson said of the Leopards. Cameron Clark, Taylor Stevenson and

Eric Holland hustled on defense for Newport.

Elsewhere on the first day of pool play:

Rea 10, Davis 0 - Eric Duarte scored six goals as the defending

champions made a big statement. Single scores came from Leonel Garcia,

George Olivas, Giovanni Vasquez and Brian Lopez. Garcia had four assists.