Otters rally in second half

COSTA MESA ? Down, 1-0, at halftime of their fifth- and sixth-grade girls’ Silver Division game at the Daily Pilot Cup, the Eastbluff Elementary School Otters had nothing to lose.

So they went all out on offense, a strategy that netted them one goal ? but not two. Newport Coast’s defense held up for the most part, producing a 1-1 tie.

“It was a tough game. We were just defending in the second half,” Newport Coast Coach Ali Sabouni said. “But our defense held up pretty good, so we’ll take the tie.”

Eastbluff had most of the scoring chances throughout the game, but it was Newport Coast that scored the first goal. An Eastbluff handball in the box produced a penalty kick, and Alexa Mamatas booted it in to give Newport Coast a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.

Until that point, Eastbluff goalie Samantha Alanis hadn’t had to make any save attempts, though she was tested more in the second half and finished with seven saves. Newport Coast goalie Catherine Patel also had seven saves ? five of those coming in the first half.

Otters’ speedy forward Katie Senske had a chance to even the score before halftime, but she was stopped on a nice save from Patel. That wouldn’t be the last time Senske was heard from, however.

Midway through the second half, Amanda Stephenson’s corner kick found Senske’s foot, and she knocked it into the right corner to tie the game.

“Katie and I, we’re a scoring team,” Stephenson said. “I just hoped she’d get there. And she did, and we scored.”

Minutes later, Stephenson’s cross in front of the Newport Coast goal innocently rolled wide. Eastbluff’s Britton Taylor also had a shot that went just wide right late in the game.

Newport Coast’s three main defenders ? Nica Sabouni, Sarah Rekenthaler and Paige Davies ? did a good job withstanding the constant Eastbluff pressure in the second half. Coast midfielder Alexis Cage also played a very active game.

“It was frustrating,” Senske said of failing on so many opportunities. “We have to talk more on the field. Sometimes, we just pass it to the other team.”

Also playing well for Eastbluff were Kiana Schwenk-Mueller, Kylie Mulvaney and Lexie Shaw on defense.

The Otters (0-1-1) are done with pool play. Newport Coast (0-0-1) plays its second and final pool play game Friday against St. John on Costa Mesa High field No. 2. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.dpt.01-dpcup-5-kt-CPhotoInfoSS1RHLRA20060601j05ydxncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Eastbluff’s Kiana Schwenk-Mueller, left, and Newport Coast’s Paige Davies battle for the ball during a Daily Pilot Cup match at Costa Mesa High School.