Carden Hall rules

Barry Faulkner

In its fifth year, the Daily Pilot Cup has already become somewhat of

a Newport-Mesa spring tradition. It has also spawned perennial soccer

rivalries that follow players from one year to the next as they

mature from the third grade to the sixth.

The gold division girls fifth- and sixth-grade title showdown

Sunday at the Costa Mesa Sports Farm Complex featured such a matchup,

which, as it turned out, yielded some measure of revenge.

The Carden Hall Eagles, whose eight sixth-graders lost to

Andersen, 1-0, in the third- and fourth-grade final two years ago,

turned the tables on the Dolphins this time.

Carden Hall’s 4-1 victory not only gave the school its second

straight girls fifth- and sixth-grade crown, it thoroughly satisfied

the Eagles’ players, coaches and parents.

“I’m so happy,” Carden Hall Coach Barb Yeager said through a

beaming smile. “I think our girls really wanted it.”

It was apparent, however, that Andersen was in no mood to

relinquish bygone bragging rights, as the Dolphins answered Carden

Hall’s opening goal with one of their own to force a 1-1 halftime

deadlock.

Alison Gordon boomed the opening salvo, a 35-yard direct free kick

that sailed into the upper middle portion of the net in the 27th

minute of the 30-minute first half.

Andersen, however, got the equalizer two minutes later, when

Jordan Dillion cashed in a penalty kick awarded after an Andersen

player was fouled in the 18-yard box.

The deadlock continued 12 minutes into the second half, before

Gillian Hogan sent a through ball from midfield and Caroline

Hardenbergh outran an Andersen defender to the ball, proceeded

briefly, then launched a left-footed drive into the high upper

reaches of the net’s left corner to give Carden Hall the lead.

Hardenbergh, whom Yeager said had scored the first two games of

the tournament, before enduring a three-game scoreless stint, showed

her accuracy was no fluke by adding an insurance goal in the waning

moments.

Hardenbergh’s second goal came from about 20 yards out on the left

wing, where being left-footed proved advantageous. She fired a shot

on a sharp angle toward the far right side of the goal that soared

over a helpless goalie and into the net.

Hogan, whom Yeager said was the primary team leader, rounded out

the scoring one minute later, when she converted from about 12 yards

directly in front.

Carden Hall players celebrated wildly and one, Claire Layton,

after politely obtaining permission, poured a small bottle of water

over Yeager’s head.

The 4-1 win upped Carden Hall’s goal margin for the tournament to

22-1, led by 10 goals from Lauren Draganza and five each from Hogan

and Hardenbergh.

Carden Hall got two goals from Draganza and one from Hogan to earn

a 3-0 semifinal win over Our Lady Queen of Angels Sunday morning.

Yeager said the up-the-middle alignment of sweeper Shelby

Williams, Gordon, Hogan and Draganza was the team’s strength in the

six-day event.

Goalie Morgan Williams anchored a defense that also included

Kristi Jacobs and Julie Kapelke.

In addition to Hogan, Jennifer Kalmbach, Layton and Mary Yeager

provided strength at midfield for the winners, who also received

contributions from Jordan Murrel and Bianca Posey.

Andersen Coach Linda Craig said she could not have asked more from

her team, which was led by the versatile Dillion, forwards MacKenzie

Brown, Anna Venturini and Sarah Craig, defenders Azadeh Nazemi and

Amanda Johnson, as well as midfielders Katie DeMiranda, Brooke

DeMiranda, Ellie Nadal and Hannah Rome.

Lindsey Luke was the goalkeeper and additional support was

provided by Hailey Raguse, Kate Alvarado and Kelly Feeley.

Andersen needed two rounds of penalty kicks to defeat Mariners

Christian in its semifinal. The game was tied, 1-1, after regulation,

thanks to a Venturini goal. The initial round of PKs were tied, 4-4,

then the Dolphins earned a 4-3 edge in the second shootout.