Pegasus now know Jack

COSTA MESA — Three minutes before the go-ahead goal was booted in by the opposing coach’s kid, Pegasus Coach Alex Francini spoke up.

“Scotty!” Francini yelled across the Costa Mesa Farm Complex No. 1 soccer field toward Mariners Christian A Coach Scotty McBean.

“What are you teaching your kids over there?”

Francini looked around then laughed. Pegasus was on the verge of tying a powerhouse, but it would be McBean and his fifth- and sixth-graders who would have the last laugh in a physical match Tuesday.

McBean’s son, Jack, made sure of that.

Jack scored the game-winner with less than 10 minutes left, lifting Mariners Christian to a 2-1 victory in the first match of pool play in the Gold Division at the Eighth Annual Daily Pilot Cup tournament.

“That was a tough game. Tougher than we thought it was going to be,” said Scotty, whose team plays Mariners A tonight at 6:30 on field No. 1. “It was a good win.”

McBean walked away, sort of relieved until some parent stopped by, asking him what he was doing.

Scotty was going to do an interview before the parent said Scotty was from England.

“Scotland, not England,” Scotty corrected him. “C’mon, get it right.”

Scotty’s teams have gotten it right on the field.

He said two of his the last four teams have won the championship. Scotty’s been so successful that his son had to correct him when he said last year’s team won it all.

It seems to Francini like the McBeans are always triumphing.

“I think the Pegasus boys came out and played a good game against a team that has been dominant for years,” said Francini, whose team plays tonight against Our Lady Queen of Angels on field No. 1 at 7:30. “We took a little bit of a defensive stance. We marked up [Jack], who’s a great player, and his father’s a great coach. We tried to neutralize [Jack].”

The strategy worked for most of the 60-minute match, until Pegasus’ defense left Jack open outside the box.

While three defenders attacked Mariners Christian midfielder Kevin Norman on the right side, near the box, he tapped it to his left to a wide-open Jack.

The striker finished it off, blasting a shot where the goalkeeper stood no chance of making a save. Far corner, and just like that Mariners Christian was on its way to a win.

“Big time,” Scotty called his son’s game-winner. “They doubled and tripled teamed him pretty good.”

Locking up Jack made it possible for Pegasus to keep the match close. After Matt Elmajian gave Mariners Christian a 1-0 lead in the first half, Francini gave his club a pep talk at halftime.

There was also talk of a trick play. It never came, but Brian Team picked up his team.

The sweeper tied the match five minutes into the second half on a penalty shot, going off the hands of goalkeeper. Connor Roche helped in Pegasus receiving the penalty opportunity.

Some kid let Roche know about his effort.

“Connor, you played so tough,” the kid said.

Roche shrugged his shoulders before crediting the winning club and as to why it won: “They’re aggressive.”

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].