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2011-12 GU10 Win Newport MesaTournament
NHB’s GU10 team started the new season off right by winning the Newport Mesa Tournament over Memorial weekend. Scoring 14 goals and only giving up one on the weekend, the girls demonstrated their dominance in a convincing 3-0 win in the championship game versus Corona Blues.
With a mission of winning the tournament, the girls came out strong in their first game and defeated the F.C. Blades by a score of 8-0. Goals were scored by Katie Freeman, Jayd Sprague, and Trinity Rodman. A stellar job on defense was turned in by Delaney Trounce who was punishing the opposition with her runs up the field and crosses to the middle.
In the team’s second game, they would face Corona Blues. In a very physical match, NHB jumped ahead 1-0 during the first half, but Corona would answer quickly with a goal of their own. Midfielder Camille Heidelbaugh would battle hard winning many 50/50 balls for NHB. During the second half, Corona applied a lot of pressure, and even put one off the post, but where unable to put the ball in the back of the net. NHB also had some opportunities, but were unable to convert, and had to settle for a 1-1 tie.
Host Newport-Mesa would be the obstacle on Sunday morning. This game would be a challenge as NHB was missing Megan Larson, Heidelbaugh, and Trounce due to family obligations. Half way through the first half, with good ball movement, and a timely run, Lori Mandarino was able to put away a perfectly crossed ball to take a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Sprague would put the game away by scoring on a strong run up the middle with the ball. Strong defensive efforts were turned in by, Diana Naughton, Cecelia Odou, Peyton Kassouf, and Freeman.
NHB would meet Corona Blues once again, to determine the tournament champion. This was Corona’s fourth straight trip to a tournament final. Coming out with a determination to handle some unsettled business from the day before, NHB scored in the first minute of the game. Thinking that one might not be enough, the girls fired two more goals into the back of the net to take a commanding 3-0 lead within the first fifteen minutes of the game. From that point on, the girls focused on not letting their opponent have any opportunities to score. Abby Edwards was making strong passes and Alexis Beaulac was frustrating the opponents with her constant pressure. It looked like Corona might get a break to score late in the game when they were awarded a penalty kick, but goalkeeper Maddie Alaluf would have none of that. She dived to save the penalty kick, and then had the presence of mind to get up and kick the ball away from an oncoming player hoping to get the rebound goal. Alaloof had two complete game shutouts, and shared another with Odou, for the weekend.
This was the first tournament that the girls have participated in together, but not the last final for them this coming season. Congratulations girls! Keep training and playing hard, and good things will continue.
