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Girls’ 3-4 Silver: Cano leads St. Joachim to title

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Along the Harbor Day School sideline one of the greatest Los Angeles Lakers stood with a video camera next to his wife, Vanessa. All the rest of the parents and families did their best to leave Kobe Bryant alone and let him be a parent.

But, on the pitch, the Harbor Day girls’ third- and fourth-grade Silver Division team did not want to leave Skylar Cano alone. She was the star player in the division at the 16th annual Daily Pilot Cup. In the end, she was left alone, in a class all her own.

She scored a hat trick, her second one on Sunday, to lead St. Joachim to a 4-1 victory and the Daily Pilot Cup championship at Jack Hammett Sports Complex.

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The fifth time turned out to be the charm for Cano, as she missed on four great scoring chances early on.

But after she struck for her first goal, the rest followed.

Cano, a 10-year-old fourth-grader, scored 14 goals in the tournament. She had a hat trick in St. Joachim’s 4-1 victory over Mariners Christian in the semifinals. Sky Maciel also scored for the Sea Kings.

Against Harbor Day, Stella Gaffney scored for St. Joachim, giving her team a 3-1 lead.

Cano scored two goals in the first half.

“It was exciting, but sometimes it was kind of tough,” Cano said of the title game. “I was kind of frustrated. I knew I could’ve scored those [early scoring chances].”

Alex Boserup scored for Harbor Day to open the second half. She scored nine goals during the tournament.

The goal gave the Seahawks some life and belief they could get back in the game.

But Gaffney’s goal put the Sea Kings back in control.

Cano closed it out with a goal that went through the goalie’s legs with five minutes remaining.

“They all gave everything they had,” Cano’s mother, Renee, a co-coach said. “They each played with their heart every game. We have some key players that make the team strong, but everyone plays their part.”

St. Joachim goalie Anna Reed certainly played her part and made some big saves throughout the tournament.

Maciel was also strong for the champions and Gaffney was precise with her passing and provided energy.

Ava Burton, Jadyn Culter, Emily Deck, Sarah Porter, Claire Witherspoon and Charlotte Juge also contributed for the winners.

Harbor Day’s goalie, Ragan Angeloff, also proved tough and exceptional.

Gianna Bryant delivered key passes from the midfield during the tournament.

Chloe Davis, Petra Gapp, Alex “the Enforcer” Gomez, Rio Haupt, Madeline Mahoney, Jaymes Piercey, Kristy Riddle, Sarah Sonenshine, Logan Stern, Talia Tse, Peyton Vovan, Emma Steelberg and Catherine Peets also contributed for Harbor Day.

Stern scored the game-winner to lead the Seahawks to a 1-0 win over Lincoln in the semifinals.

Her father, Jason, a coach, was impressed with his team’s “amazing” effort throughout the tournament.

He also admired Kobe Bryant’s support and was fond of the way the rest of the parents treated him as their own.

“He’s here to support his girls, just like any other family,” Jason Stern said. “He gets his time on the basketball court, and then this is his girls’ time. He’s a phenomenal supportive father. He’s out here for the girls. He’s supportive of not just his girl, but all the girls. There are great families at Harbor Day.”

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