Boys soccer: Andersen ambushes Harbor Day

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - The Andersen Elementary third- and fourth-grade boys

soccer team pounced as one upon the perpetual championship trophy during

the Daily Pilot Cup awards ceremony Saturday at The Farm Complex.

It was, one might say, patterned behavior, considering the second-half

ambush the Dolphins unleashed upon final opponent Harbor Day.

Utilizing what Coach King Nelson termed favorable field conditions, as

well as some nifty passing, Andersen erupted for four second-half goals

to earn a 5-1 victory.

“It always helps to be going downhill with a wind at your back,” said

Nelson, who also used the halftime break to encourage his players to

spread the field and frequently switch the ball to the weak side when the

Harbor Day defense overcommitted.

Parker Stone broke the 1-1 tie early in the second half, caroming a

shot off both goal posts -- first the left, then the right -- before it

rolled across the goal line.

Guy Sutherland booted a rebound home to make it 3-1, before Joey

Cooper, who scored on a scramble in front in the first half to erase

Harbor Day’s only lead, and Stone added insurance goals.

Randall Nelson, Dillon Campbell and Bryan Yasukochi earned praise from

their coach for strong defensive performances, helping ease the workload

of goalie Matthew Fay.

Scott Thomsen scored to put Harbor Day on top about nine minutes into

the 30-minute first half.

Harbor Day Coach Tim Scott and assistant Bo Smith credited the play of

sweeper J.D. Edmonds, forward Chase Ross, goalie Andy Morrow and Wilson

Knapp.

Coach Nelson said of his 15-player roster, 13 have been made AYSO

All-Star teams and that depth allowed him to keep fresh legs on the

field.

“Harbor Day has a great team and it played well, also,” Nelson said.

In the semifinals:

Andersen 3, Lincoln 1: Andersen beat the defending champion with goals

from Cooper, Sutherland and Stone.

Chris Freeman scored the lone goal for Lincoln, which made Andersen

score the final two goals to advance.

Harbor Day 2, Our Lady Queen of Angels 0: Sean Okita and Scott Thomsen

scored for the winners.

Andersen roster

Danny Baker

Dillon Campbell

Joey Cooper

Matthew Fay

Scott Frazier

Tyler Haly

Randall Nelson

Scott Oatman

Mattias Russo-Larsson

Parker Stone

Taylor Stone

Guy Sutherland

David Weiland

Alec Wilson

Bryan Yasukochi

Coach King Nelson