Pilot Cup: Christ Lutheran dominates

The Christ Lutheran boys’ fifth- and sixth-grade team continued its improbable run through the bronze division by crushing Newport Elementary, 4-1, at the Daily Pilot Cup.

Christ Lutheran played shorthanded with only nine players, yet to Newport it must have seemed as if Christ Lutheran had extra players.

Liam Jason began the scoring with a nifty, left-foot shot to the corner of the net, and Christ Lutheran had a lead it would never relinquish.

The defense, led by Kyle Barnard, aided by Scott McClellan and Adam Auriemma, expertly turned back several Newport attacks. Nathan Wander, only allowed one goal on a penalty kick due to a hand ball. Nathan directed the defense and calmly frustrated the Newport offense with several saves.

William Nomura and Chad Pavlick were solid in the middle; assisting the defense when necessary and feeding the offense and leading to goals.

Liam Jason continued the scoring with a perfectly lofted goal to the upper corner of the net and completed his hat trick by striking the ball from the right side and after a momentary deflection by the Newport goalkeeper, the ball settled gently in the left side of the net.

Trevor Entwistle made the Newport goalkeeper work hard to prevent several direct shots turning into goals, and Quinn Berkaw finished the scoring with a beautifully placed shot past the goalkeeper.

The boys’ team will continue its quest for the cup in a semifinal game Sunday morning.

— Reader submission