Hawks head to top

COSTA MESA ? Any game between geographically-close Andersen Elementary and Harbor Day School is a rivalry game between the two schools.

Many of the students play club soccer together. Playing for his school, Nicolas Sargeant made sure this battle had a happy ending for Harbor Day.

Sargeant had a pair of assists in the final three minutes of the game as Harbor Day came out on top, 2-0, in a boys’ third- and fourth-grade Gold game. With the win, the Seahawks (2-0) clinch their pool and an automatic bid into the quarterfinals.

Andersen (1-1) was left wishing for one of two wildcard berths.

“They’re in our backyard,” said Harbor Day Coach Paul O’Connor. “It’s always a big rivalry, and usually Andersen ends up on top.”

Not this time, thanks largely to Sargeant’s heroics. The game was scoreless until late in the second half, when he dribbled the ball along the end-line and passed it in front to teammate Jesse DiGiovanni, who blasted it in for a 1-0 lead.

“We got them down to where they were tired, and we just kept on passing,” Sargeant said. “I took it down, and Jesse finished.”

In the last minute of the game, Sargeant’s long free kick bounced around in front of the net before teammate Connor Kelter tapped it in.

“We knew we’re in a tough bracket, and a lot of the kids play soccer together,” said Andersen Coach Jon Johnston. “Hopefully we get a wild-card bid, but who knows. I think all of our kids played well and ran really hard.”

Both teams had their chances early. A shot by Andersen’s Jack Molnar on Ben Humphreys’ pass just missed in the opening minutes. Moments later, Harbor Day’s John O’Connor saw his long, lofting shot go just off the goalie.

In the 15th minute, Anderson had a golden opportunity. Joey Martino’s free kick went just off the Harbor Day goalie, and teammate Jeff Johnston slid in. But interference was called on the play.

The second half had several Andersen pushes, but they were stopped by a solid Harbor Day defense, including sweeper Jay Damon and defender Kavi Sakraney. The game went back and forth, but Paul O’Connor knew his team couldn’t afford a tie.

The Seahawks had beaten their first pool opponent by more than five goals ? an offense that deducts a team point by Daily Pilot Cup rules ? so they had only nine points going into the game, compared to the Dolphins’ 10.

With only one team guaranteed to move on, the tension was high until Sargeant and DiGiovanni provided some breathing room.

“We had a good boost of energy at the end, and we knew their defense was pushed up,” said John O’Connor. “We were just crossing and scoring.”

Also playing well for Andersen was defender Bo St. Geme. The Dolphins’ Charlie Rodosky made five saves at goalie, while Harbor Day’s trio of Christopher King, Eric Magliarditti and Kelter combined for six saves.

Harbor Day, the winner of Pool B, will play the winner of Pool E on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the boys’ 3-4 Gold Division quarterfinals at Farm field No. 6.(LA)dpt.02-dpcup-3-BPhotoInfoH11RJ0V720060602j07idpncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Harbor Day’s Jesse DiGiovanni, left, heads the ball as Andersen’s Harrison Carter, right, looks on during Thursday afternoon’s Boys’ 3-4 Gold Division pool play match at the Daily Pilot Cup at The Farm Complex in Costa Mesa.