Pilot Cup girls’ 5-6 gold division: Andersen again on top
COSTA MESA — Right before taking a penalty kick Sunday, Andersen Elementary student Julie Bartz heard some words of encouragement from her mother, Cathy.
“You can do it!” Cathy Bartz said. “You practice this every day!”
Julie put away the penalty kick into the middle of the goal. She had so much fun doing it, she scored twice more after that.
Her hat trick helped Andersen defeat Lincoln, 4-0, in the Daily Pilot Cup girls’ fifth- and sixth-grade gold division title match Sunday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex.
Andersen won the division for the fourth time in 13 Daily Pilot Cups, but first time since 2009. The Dolphins have won 11 overall gold division titles in girls’ competition, the most of any school at the tournament.
“I’m really proud of their hard work and their focus,” Andersen Coach Kathryn Hoffman said of this year’s squad.
Andersen did not give up a regulation goal all tournament, behind a tough defense anchored by left defender Parker Hoffman, center defender Abby Redman, right defender Shannon Duss and goalie Chloe Harbilas.
Redman stepped up in goal on the tournament’s final day. Harbilas, who plays club water polo for CdM Aquatics, had a Junior Olympic qualification tournament to attend Sunday in Mission Viejo. Redman played keeper in Andersen’s 4-2 shootout victory over Mariners in the semifinals, and also in the second half of the championship match, when she recorded two saves. Harbilas made five saves in the first half of the title match before heading back to water polo.
Parker Hoffman said the shootout victory over Mariners, coming after the teams played to a scoreless tie in regulation, gave Andersen a lot of momentum. Mariners also did not allow a regulation goal in the tournament.
“They were one of the best teams,” Parker Hoffman said. “They had the most points. We were nervous that we were going to get creamed. In the penalty kicks, it was a little scary, but Abby, our great goalkeeper, she saved two of them.”
Sophie Wallace, Siena Secrist, Bartz and Duss converted penalty kicks in the semifinal victory.
After Bartz’ penalty kick in the 15th minute of the title match put Andersen on the board, the Dolphins used some teamwork to strike again. Hoffman passed the ball to Wallace, who found Bartz for another goal in the 23rd minute.
Secrist got into the action just two minutes later. She got the ball back on a sweet give-and-go from Wallace, who was one of two fifth-graders on the team. Secrist then scored cross-cage from the right, giving the Dolphins a 3-0 advantage at halftime.
They kept it, after a Lincoln goal in the final minute of the half was called back due to an offside penalty.
Bartz got her hat trick with six minutes to go in the game. She said she had mixed feelings about it, since Andersen was playing another Corona del Mar-area elementary school in Lincoln.
“I’m happy I did it, but I kind of feel bad because some of my friends are on the other team,” she said.
Lauren Rowe, Olivia Cremo, Hana Cloherty, Olivia Bendetti, Reagan Pfeiff (the team’s other fifth-grader), Miranda Cyr and Kayla Stuckenberg also assisted Andersen’s cause.
Lincoln goalie Julia Fox hung in there all game, making five saves. Lincoln also benefited from stellar play from players including Libby Gestford, Coco Caston and Bridget Lombardo.
Emery Rolfes scored Lincoln’s goal in a 1-0 semifinal victory over Newport Coast. She also showed off her throw-ins during the title match, doing a front flip before throwing the ball in play.
Pat Rolfes was Lincoln’s head coach. He praised his team’s tenacity, bouncing back from a 5-0 loss to Mariners to open pool play on Wednesday. Rolfes’ assistants included two Corona del Mar High girls’ soccer players, Alana Hunter and Noelle Gooding.
Twitter: @mjszabo
