Virgen’s View: Bronze Division provides plenty of lessons at Pilot Cup

Just as halftime ended and the Newport Heights Elementary girls did their best to finish their orange slices, 10-year-old Leina Stewart anxiously threw on a yellow mesh tank top over her purple T-shirt. She was about to play goalkeeper for the first time in her life Friday at Davis Magnet Elementary.

Leina deals with three eye disorders, her mother Nani said. Leina, who must wear special eye glasses, can’t use peripheral vision because of the disorders, but that did nothing to deter her passion to play in the 18^th annual Daily Pilot Cup.

“We’re so grateful for the Pilot Cup because she gets to play,” the mother said. “She was so excited to play in the Pilot Cup this year. That’s all she talked about.”

Leina, a third-grader who enjoys dancing, had fun competing with her classmates for the Newport Heights girls’ fifth- and sixth-grade Bronze Division team. Many of the girls on the team are experiencing competitive soccer for the first time at the youth tournament that features 211 teams and three divisions, including Gold and Silver.

Leina has a twin brother, Josh Jr., who loves to play flag football and basketball, and is also in the Pilot Cup. Leina’s older sister, Savanna, 12, is all about soccer as she plays for the Irvine Pateadores club and is on the Newport Heights girls’ fifth- and sixth-grade Gold Division team.

Everyone on Newport Heights’ sideline was happy for Leina, who made three saves during her first time at the net. Newport Heights’ opponent, Lincoln, had more skilled players, including three club girls.

Lincoln posted its second 5-0 win of the tournament after beating Newport Heights. But that didn’t seem to faze the Newport Heights girls. They kept on having fun.

After Lincoln went up 5-0, Newport Heights coach Gershon Alaluf pulled Leina and let her play in the field. Newport Heights played without a keeper and tried its hardest to score.

Makena Cook, an 8-year-old second-grader, had little trouble scoring, as she delivered a hat trick, with two goals in the first half and another one after halftime.

Makena was also excited to play in the Pilot Cup. She and the rest of the Lincoln players decorated their respective T-shirts. Makena had “Cookie” on the back of her T-shirt. Her friend, Miley Perisi, the coach’s daughter, had “Milo” embroidered on the back. Miley scored one goal and so did Addison Kavanaugh.

“I like to play with my friends and I just love soccer,” Makena said of why she was looking forward to the Pilot Cup.

This girls’ third- and fourth grade Bronze Division game had a mix of beginner players and players who were more competitive.

“These girls want to win,” Lincoln coach Mike Perisi said of his team. “They’re excited. They’re really enjoying this Pilot Cup. We have a solid team for this division.”

Perisi said he did not know that his team would be put in the Bronze Division, and admitted the girls would’ve held their own in the Silver Division. Perisi is a good man. He’s on the board of directors for the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation, an organization that raises money to fund facilities and equipment for young athletes, among other charitable acts.

With the quarterfinals slated for Saturday and semifinal and final matches scheduled for Sunday, it does not appear Lincoln will be penalized, especially with a second-grader on the team. The Pilot Cup works on an honor system and leaves it up to the schools to designate their teams into the divisions. Whatever happened this year seemingly proves to be an example for next year.

There are lessons to be learned in every game at the Pilot Cup. Leina knows this to be true.

steven.virgen@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveVirgen