Pilot Cup girls’ 3-4 silver division: Moore’s hat trick leads to Mariners win

COSTA MESA — Lily Moore lived up to her last name during the girls’ third- and fourth-grade silver division championship game at the 13th annual Daily Pilot Cup.

Once the Mariners Elementary star forward scored in the first minute, she wanted more. She ended up with a hat trick and an assist to lead Mariners to a 4-1 win over Our Lady Queen of Angels for the Pilot Cup title Sunday afternoon at Jack Hammett Sports Complex.

“It felt good scoring and giving the team a lead early in the game,” Moore said.

The matchup was of two undefeated teams, but Mariners struck first in the game. Moore wasted no time. In the first minute of the game she recovered a ball at midfield. She looked up and found an opening on the left side. She dribbled past three OLQA defenders with ease and calmly shot the ball low and left to give Mariners a 1-0 lead. Moore nearly scored again after a bad clearance by OLQA defenders, but her shot wide and right.

Moore never showed signs of giving up and was hungry for more goals. There was a miscue on a goal kick by OLQA and the ball landed into her feet. She hammered the ball into the left angle upright giving the Mariners a comfortable 2-0 lead.

OLQA didn’t give up. It had its first scoring opportunity of the half, a called direct free kick about 18 yards out.

OLQA forward Annalise Bancroft stepped up to the ball and shot but right into the gloves of Mariners goalie Eliana Gottlieb. The OLQA forwards started putting pressure on Mariners’ defense but were unable to convert in the few opportunities it had in the first half. OLQA’s shots either went wide or were saved by Gottlieb. The score at halftime was 2-0 Mariners.

OLQA came out aggressive and motivated in the second half. It showed, as it led to a goal from Bancroft, a direct free kick from 25 yards out. She hammered the ball and it deflected off the Mariners goalie and into the net. This cut OLQA deficit to 2-1. Bancroft kept shooting but was unable to connect on her shots. It wasn’t until halfway in the half that Mariners got a break. Moore took a corner kick, the referees whistle blew and he signaled hand ball in the box.

Moore stepped up to the penalty spot and drilled her shot low and tight no chance for the goalie. That gave her team a 3-1 lead with few minutes left in the game.

Just when everyone thought the scoring had ended a corner kick taken by Moore went straight into the box and forward Reese Bodas ran in with a beautiful header into the net and added another goal making it a 4-1.

After the game, Mariners Coach Todd Moore, Lily’s father, mentioned that his team’s mindset from the start was to go out and have fun.

He also added that he is looking forward to next year to defend the championship crown.

Bodas the other scorer also mentioned that it felt awesome heading the ball into the net.