Daily Pilot Cup Girls 3-4 Grade Division: Andersen ready to win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - If there is a team in the Daily Pilot Cup girls third-

and fourth-grade division that has a championship look to it, perhaps the

Andersen Dolphins would be the one. They displayed the stuff of champions

with a 5-0 victory over St. Joachim to open pool play Wednesday at the

Costa Mesa Farm Field.

Andersen used four different scorers, solid forward play and sound

passing to control the contest. The Dolphins also used their experience,

as 13 players, more than half of the team, are All-Stars for their

respective AYSO squads.

That’s probably why Andersen scored 30 seconds into the game. Sarah

Craig found the net on the Dolphins’ first shot on goal, off a pass from

Lindsey Luke.

St. Joachim, on the other hand, had just five out of its 14 players

who have soccer experience. But, that didn’t stop the Sea Kings from

turning in a tough defensive performance.

The Dolphins attacked the net with 20 shots on goal in the first half,

and only four were rung up, as St. Joachim goalkeepers Ariana Dispalatro

and Sadye Busby combined for 14 saves (seven stops each). However,

Andersen took a 4-0 lead into halftime because Hayley Raguse, Katie

Deverian and Kelli Feely scored goals. Raguse made the most of her

opportunity. She came off the bench, and quickly scored, less than minute

into her playing time. Every one of Coach Linda Craig’s Dolphins played,

as did all of the Sea Kings for Coach Anita Swift.

“They all played good,” Craig said of the Dolphins. “Our forwards

played very well and we passed well, too.”

Anna Venturini, Craig, Feely and Luke were the starting forwards that

got Andersen off to the quick start.

With 11 minutes left, Deverian scored her second goal to close out

Andersen’s scoring.

In other pool play action:

Our Lady Queen of Angels 1, Mariners Christian 1

Kasey DeYoung, on an assist from teammate Marta Tena, scored the goal

for Our Lady Queen of Angels early in the first half.

Mariners Christian scored its goal early in the second half.

*Harbor Day 2, California 0 - Jackie Dion and Claire Eadington each

scored a goal as Harbor Day recorded a shutout victory.