North Huntington Beach second at tournament

North Huntington Beach Futbol Club’s NHB Black, an Under-11 girls’ soccer team, placed second last weekend at the Long Beach Sun & Surf International Soccer Tournament.

NHB went undefeated in the tournament until the final, where it lost, 2-1, to Infinity of the Cerritos Regional Soccer Club.

It was NHB’s first lost of the summer season.

NHB began group play against the Wolves of Placentia and won, 2-0, with Kirstyn Nold scoring both goals. Nold’s second goal came on a header off an Emily Vanesse crossing pass. Defensive pressure from Kristen Shklanko, Sarah Shklanko, Madison Gioia and Lindsey Archer helped keep the Wolves off the scoreboard and allowed goalkeeper Penny Roman to record her fifth shutout of the summer.

In its second game of group play, NHB took care of the Novato Danger of Northern California, 2-0, with Katie Gainous scoring both goals. Her second goal was set up by a cross pass from Raya Young.

In its final game of group play, NHB held off the Blast Soccer Club of Riverside, 2-1. Christina Sanchez scored the first goal for NHB on a long, free kick, and Lisa Fast scored the second off a corner kick by Sanchez.

In a semifinal matchup, neither NHB or Corona United Blue could score in regulation, which resulted in a penalty kick shootout. NHB prevailed, 4-2, to advance to the division’s title match. Hitting shots in the shootout for NHB were Sanchez, Fast, Kristen Shklanko and Gainous, whose shot hit the crossbar and fell over the line for a goal.

In the championship game against Infinity of Cerritos, NHB took a 1-0 lead behind a Sanchez corner kick to set up Kayla Wigney, but Infinity posted two quick goals to take the lead for good.

NHB Black is coached by Daniel Montoya, assistant coach Eddie Sanchez and managed by Pat Archer.