Firecrackers capture tournament title

The Firecrackers out of AYSO Region 143 (Huntington Beach/Westminster)

came up big on defense last weekend and won the B bracket title at the

Area K Tournament.

The team posted shutout victories in its three tournament games, and

went 3-1 overall. They beat San Clemente (3-0), Lake Forest (2-0) and

Mission Viejo (2-0), but lost, 2-1, to Rancho Santa Margarita.

Giuliana Cefalu scored two goals and Kaylee Evans netted one against

San Clemente. Cefalu also scored in the Lake Forest win, as did Andrea

Stange. The win over Mission Viejo featured goals by Cefalu and Nicole

Smith.

Sunya Ungar scored in the loss to Mission Viejo in a match where the

Firecrackers had another goal nullified by an offsides call.

The Firecrackers, coached by Jim Holden, Craig Ackermann, Jeff

Thompson and Jon Johnson, received strong backfield defense throughout

the tournament by Shelby Ackermann and Sam Thompson, and a goal tending

rotation featuring Evans, Beth Winterfeld, Ackermann and Ungar.