Youth Scene: Locals win Carlsbad Cup

The Newport Wipeout, a girls’ Under-11 Extra team from AYSO Region 97, won the Carlsbad Cup, completed in early August.

Coach Jeff Braun and his team had few expectations, as the girls had just three land practices under their belts heading into the tournament. However, the stamina and athleticism of these ladies who had trained on the beach for a month, with most also participating in the Newport Junior Lifeguard Program, proved too much for club teams from La Mirada, San Diego and Temecula.

In the championship game against La Mirada, the Wipeout overcame a 1-0 deficit as they roared back with goals from Maddy Mamelli off great feeds from Caroline Farley and Abby Blaine.

But La Mirada would not give up, netting a goal in the 55th minute and sending the game to penalty kicks.

From there, the sprawling saves of Isabella Fonk completely shut down La Mirada, which could not put one in the net.

Meanwhile, Tyesha Aguilar, Ashley McPhie, and Mamelli all connected on their PKs to secure the Cup.

Newport defeated the TVSA Hawks from Temecula, 4-0, in the semifinals. The Wipeout attacked early and often, getting four goals from Mamelli, Jasmine Amirie, Aguilar and Blaine. The pace of play was controlled by center midfielder Quinci Miller, outside midfielder Avery Allemann and defender Kate Hess, who led Newport into the title showdown.

In its opening match, Newport defeated La Mirada, 2-1. La Mirada got on the board early in the first half, but Newport fought back with a breakaway goal from Nicole Ryu, who netted her first of four goals in the tournament. Ryu came back to knock in a second in the final 30-minute half and from there the solid goalkeeping of Fonk and Olivia Belida held La Mirada scoreless.

In the second match, Newport faced an equally tough challenge from the Crusaders Soccer Club of San Diego. This time, Newport struck first with another goal from Ryu on an assist from Farley.

After CSC knotted up the match in the second half, Ryu struck again off a feed from Blaine.

The defensive four of Lauren Braun, Amirie, Ashley Munguia and Brooke Morgan would not surrender another goal in front of Belida, putting the locals into the semifinals.

—Reader submission