Donovan nets hat trick

Bryce Alderton

It was as simple as hide, appear, score.

For Harbor View Elementary School’s Sean Donovan, goals came in

threes, helping seal a 5-1 victory over Davis in Pool C of the boys

fifth- and sixth-grade soccer division in the fourth annual Daily

Pilot Cup Wednesday at the Farm Sports Complex.

“When the ball popped out toward the middle, I would hide behind a

man, make my move and get on the breakaway,” Donovan said of his

strategy to space himself from Davis defenders, giving his teammates

a chance to pass.

Donovan gained control on one of many counterattacks in the first

half and split two defenders on his way to Harbor View’s third goal

to make it 3-1 with three minutes remaining in the 25-minute half.

Donovan took a lateral inbounds pass and dribbled the ball 10 yards

before firing the ball into the right side of the net to give Harbor

View a 5-1 lead two minutes later.

Third-year Davis Coach Deena Franco wrapped her hands around the

back of her neck and gasped, “Oh no,” when the inbounds pass found

Donovan.

“We didn’t have the speed to keep up with [Donovan],” Franco said.

“We started coming back in the second half, but allowed too many

goals in the first half.”

Michael Katz tallied two goals for Harbor View with Dillon Norton,

Pierce Stemler and Tommy Bangert each adding assists.

Davis goalkeeper Tony Cisneros dove to his right with outstretched

arms to smear a shot in the first half -- one of his three saves.

Davis cut the lead to 2-1 in the 18th minute when Willie LeValley

took control on a counterattack and quickly dribbled up the field

with Jairo Rincon on his right. LeValley passed to Rincon at 10 yards

out and Rincon rifled the shot into the right side of the net.

LeValley and Rincon joined Eric Puente on the forward line in the

second half, but a staunch Harbor View defense negated any scoring

opportunity.

“I wanted us to start out making sure that we didn’t give up any

goals,” Harbor View Coach Sasha Zubatov said. “Our goal was to play

solid defense and get many counterattacks. Our forwards are real

aggressive guys that go after it.”

Zubatov inserted some players at positions they weren’t familiar

with in the second half. He wanted to get as many players into the

game as possible.

“The second half was a little scary for me,” he said.

* Rea No. 1 4, Mariners Christian 2: Juan Gonzalez scored twice

with Jorge Oliveras and Edgar Vega each adding singles goals for Rea

No. 1 in Pool A play at the Farm Complex.

* Rea No. 2 1, Harbor Day 1: Jesus Hernandez found the back of the

net on a direct kick following a penalty for Rea No. 2 Wednesday in

Pool E play at the Farm Complex.