Dolphins rally for 4-3 victory

Steve Virgen

There was so much excitement, even several parents were left drained

after an emotional Daily Pilot Cup quarterfinal soccer game between

Mariners Christian and Newport Coast Saturday at the Costa Mesa Farm

Complex. The two third- and fourth-grade boys teams battled

throughout 50 minutes of well-played soccer. The Mariners Christian

Dolphins overcame a 3-1 deficit, scored three goals in the final six

minutes and won, 4-3, to advance to today’s semifinals.

Steven Miller scored his third goal for the game-winner with one

minute remaining. Miller’s hat trick was thoroughly impressive,

considering Newport Coast had not allowed a goal in its two games

prior to Saturday.

Mariners Christian will face Rea today at 9:30 a.m. for the right

to play in the championship at noon.

“When they went up, 3-1, I thought we were dead and buried,” said

Mariners Christian Coach Phil Miller. “I didn’t do anything. The

players were the ones who turned it on and won this game. That shows

you what kind of spirit they had. That was one of the most exciting

games I’ve seen in quite awhile.”

Newport Coast Coach Tiet “Ted” Bui also thought the game was

exciting and competitive. He said, even though the Coyotes built a

1-0 halftime lead, he thought his team was playing catch-up because

one of his best players, Chris Freeman, missed the first half.

Newport Coast went up, 1-0, with five minutes left in the first

half. Connor Gaal struck for a goal after his shot sailed over the

goalies’ head and outstretched hands.

At halftime, the Coyotes hoped for the return of Freeman, who came

late from a baseball game. Mere seconds before halftime ended,

Freeman sprinted onto the field, smiling and reveling amid cheers

from his teammates, who welcomed him with hugs.

Five minutes into the second half, Freeman quickly made his

presence felt. He scored shortly after Gaal’s sideline throw-in near

midfield. Freeman used his above-average speed to create a breakaway

and finished it. Two minutes later, Steven Miller broke Newport

Coast’s 131-minute shutout streak after winning a ball 15 feet from

the net.

However, five minutes later, Freeman scored another goal, giving

the Coyotes a 3-1 lead with 13 minutes left. But the Dolphins

remained confident because they had more scoring opportunities than

Newport Coast. But the Dolphins just weren’t finishing, until they

went on their three-goal run in the final six minutes.

Miler scored from 10 yards out to draw the Dolphins to within 3-2.

Then, with three minutes left, Mariners Christian received the

benefit of an own goal, as the ball went off a Newport Coast player

and into the net. The Dolphins’ Daniel Gills was credited with the

goal.

In the closing moments of the second half, there were two

stoppages because of Newport Coast injuries. But the Coyotes kept

coming.

Steven Miller, Timmy Root and Sam Barkley were responsible for

several scoring chances for the Dolphins, while Andrew Bohne and

Daniel Toberty controlled the midfield. Goalie Clark Cashion anchored

the defense. David Moore, Cole Gennrich, Michael Bui and Hunter

Molnar also contributed for the Coyotes, whose goalkeeper was Scott

Youngman.

*

Saturday’s scores

at Costa Mesa Farm Complex

Quarterfinals

Rea 3, Adams 0

OLQOA 5, Kaiser 2

Harbor Day 2, Andersen/Lincoln 1

Mariners Christian 4, Newport Coast 3