Friends true for Adams

COSTA MESA — Angelina Freiberger and Haley Flores pushed the ball up the soccer field all night for Adams.

Freiberger relentlessly attacked the Christ Lutheran goalie and almost scored on numerous attempts, but nothing would go in.

Then, as the game was coming to a close, Freiberger decided to pass the ball to her best friend, Flores. Flores crushed the ball across the goal from impressive distance to put Adams on top 2-0. The whistle sounded. The game was over.

“I always play hard and I keep on going,” Flores said. “I knew Angelina would pass to me and we’re best friends.”

This girls’ fifth- and sixth-grade Silver Division match had both coaches animated all night long on Friday at Costa Mesa High. It didn’t matter if some players were more experienced than others, everyone competed honorably. In pool-play games at the eighth annual Daily Pilot Cup, that’s what the atmosphere is mostly all about.

“For a lot of girls that never played soccer before and this is their first experience in a team environment, they did a great job,” Christ Lutheran Coach Kurt Mason said. “Soccer is not easy to pick up, but these girls have worked well [with] only four weeks in playing together as a team.”

With only two minutes passed in the first half, Noemi Perez put her exceptional goalkeeping skills on display for Adams.

A few minutes later, Perez’s teammates helped her out. Freiberger kicked the ball up the field and Carrissa Bernal scored.

Aside from the scoring, the game was played mainly in the midfield in the first half for both teams. Both coaches yelled out lively instructions to their troops. For Adams, Coach Juanita Priesand shouted excitedly, “Push it up girls! Good, good, good!”

Freiberger responded, attacking often in the first half. One kick from Freiberger’s leg sailed just over the left goal post of Christ Lutheran.

When the first half ended, it was 1-0 Adams.

“The girls had a lot of energy,” Priesand said. “They were having a great time and we worked really well as a team.”

Maria Vargas backed up her coach’s words. She helped Perez out with her clutch defense plays. Early in the second half, Vargas broke up a breakaway by Christ Lutheran.

For Christ Lutheran, Taylor Spies was the energizer as she fought to control the midfield, despite battling against bigger players on the opposition. Brooke Donnelly did her best to keep the Adams’ offense in check, putting the clamps down on the defensive end.

Analysa Vivanco was also an integral part of the Christ Lutheran midfield.

“These guys just need to recognize that they can play with anybody out there and they are as good as anybody else,” Mason said. “First to the ball every time wins the game.”

Both teams attacked more in the second half, as both goalkeepers saw a lot of action. An Adams’ goal attempt bounced off the Christ Lutheran goalpost. The Christ Lutheran goalkeeper saved two beautiful near-scores, keeping Freiberger at bay.

Both teams seemed to demonstrate a willingness to maintain the integrity of soccer by having a blast and trying their best.

Freiberger and Flores, the friendly alliterating duo, were part of that. They enjoy each other’s company off the soccer field, as well. Priesand says they hang out together frequently.

“They have great soccer skills,” Priesand said. “They work really well together and they have a lot of good footwork.”

JASON KORNFELD may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at [email protected].