Thunder strikes back

COSTA MESA ? Pegasus School was happy to be able to participate in the Daily Pilot Cup. The Huntington Beach school was allowed to enter the tournament, which features schools from the Newport-Mesa area, because the majority of students were from the region.

While the girls’ third- and fourth-grade Gold team was excited for the opportunity, make no mistake, winning was on its mind.

Once Pegasus cracked the Newport Elementary defense, the offense got on a roll and the Thunder won, 5-0, in the second game of pool play Wednesday at the Farm Sports Complex.

Shelby Brown scored three goals and Elise Roche added two for Pegasus.

After losing to Lincoln in its first game, Pegasus players said they wanted to come out with more intensity.

“Last time we lost and this time we were going to be more fierce,” fullback Lauren Tallichet said. “We were fierce. When I play soccer, I want to kick the ball. When I’m not playing soccer, I have to kick something.”

Newport Elementary goalkeeper Kellie Melendres held up as best she could, making 11 saves in the game.

Melendres was forced into action early on, making two saves in a short span to start the game. After a Pegasus steal, Melendres added another diving save and then a leaping save when Brown fired a shot.

Pegasus goalkeeper Samantha Apodada flashed her own skill in front of the net, quickly defusing a one-on-one opportunity. Apodada added another save on Nikki Walsh’s attempt, deflecting it out of bounds and then notched another save off the corner kick.

But the defensive battle would be short-lived. Newport Elementary was clearing the ball when a pass bounced to Brown, who quickly passed inside to Roche for the goal and a 1-0 lead.

The tandem of Brown and Roche teamed up again, but Melendres came up with the save. As Newport Elementary was making a push to the Lightning end, Brown stole a pass, dribbled to within 15 yards of the goal and popped it in for a 2-0 lead.

“When we got two goals, I knew we’d win,” Tallichet said.

Newport Elementary sweeper Elizabeth Muenchow had a steal and a shot in the closing minutes, but could not cut into the deficit.

“My favorite part was how everybody was doing a really good job working together,” Pegasus forward Nicki Pievic said. “It keeps me having fun all of the time. There is no time when I’m not having fun. I like how we work together. Some players are good at one thing and other players are good at other things.”

Pegasus scored three goals in the second half. “I just like playing and kicking the ball around,” Pegasus’ Lindsay Danley said. dpt.01-dpcup-2-dl-BPhotoInfoSS1RHK2520060601j05sqqncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Lauren Tallichet, right, runs up and high-fives teammate Elise Roche after a goal for Pegasus in Daily Pilot Cup action.