HB Storm advances to State Tournament

Region 56’s Gold all-stars, the H.B. Storm, faced a huge challenge

at the Section 11 All-Star soccer tournament held last weekend at UC

Irvine, facing the top teams from much of Southern California.

After two days of competition, the Storm emerged as Sectional champions.

They are the only boy’s team in their age bracket from Orange County

continuing on to the Tri-sectional State championship tournament.

“More than 76,000 registered kids played in Section 11 this year” Coach

Craig Ciandella said. “This section includes southern L.A. County all the

way to the Mexican border. It is incredible that in the Under 12 age

bracket, our 14 athletes ended up on top. These boys will represent

Orange County well at the next level.”

In their tournament opener, the Storm battled to a 1-1 tie against San

Marcos. They then shutout North Irvine 2-0, followed by a 3-1 victory

over La Mesa. Mike Buonanotte scored 3 goals, Latu Fangupo chipped in 2

and Daniel Jimenez added 1 goal during the three games.

The 2-0-1 mark advanced the Storm to Sunday’s championship game against

Lakewood, which took a 2-1 lead before Jason Hayes kicked a towering pass

to the net, and Curtis Taniguchi was there to head it in for a 2-2 tie.

The two teams went into a shootout, where Lakewood’s first kick sailed

wide of the net. Consecutive shots by the Storm’s Dylan Nicholson, Daniel

Jimenez, Vince Devany and Justin De Marco all found the back of the net,

and after Lakewood failed on its second attempt, the Storm had a

championship to celebrate.

Jimenez had scored the Storm’s first goal off a Chapman assist.

“This team would not give up”, said Coach Steve Sullivan. “It is so

exciting to see the intensity of these kids on the field and how well

they play together. Every one of them has contributed in a huge way.”

Other members of the HB Storm include Jeremy Brock, Kyle Ciandella,

Andrew Nehrig, Dylan Nicholson, Conner Sullivan and goalie Tyler Pistoia.

The H.B. Storm remains undefeated during AYSO all-star play and are only

one of four All-Star teams left in their age bracket. The Tri-Sectional

State Tournament will be held in Whittier in March 26.

REGION 5 MOVES ON TO TRI-SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT

The Wave, a boys Under-10 Gold All-Star team out of Region 5 (Fountain

Valley), received a wild-card invitation to the March 26 Tri-Sectional

Tournament following a runner-up finish at last weekend’s Sectional

Tournament at UC Irvine.

Alex Loeffelman scored a first half goal to give The Wave a 1-0 lead over

La Mirada in the title match, but La Mirada posted two late goals to come

away with a 2-1 victory and the crown.

The Wave opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Tierra Santa, with Jon

Birt scoring twice, Loeffelman once, and defenders Jordan Black, Andrew

Kinney, and Alex Gallardo leading the way on defense. Next came a 3-0

triumph over Mission Viejo, with Loeffelman scoring a hat trick and

goalies Max Volz and Jason Frazier netting the shutout.

On Sunday, The Wave used Danny Shoop’s unassisted goal to earn a 1-1 tie

with Belmont Shores.

SURF CITY BLUES COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL SEASON

The Surf City Strikers, a girls Under-14 Gold All-Star team representing

Region 143 (Westminster/Huntington Beach), completed an outstanding

season Sunday with a 1-1-1 record at the Sectional Tournament at UC

Irvine.

The Strikers defeated San Marcos, 1-0, Saturday on a Kirsten Bolt goal,

then came back on Sunday to earn a 1-1 tie with Mission Viejo on Nikki

Frieborg’s goal, before being edged by Lakewood, 1-0. In the three games,

goalies Kristin Coleman and Alexandra Jaspers dominated the opposition.

The Surf City Strikers completed postseason play with a 10-1-2 record,

and outscored their opponents, 34-4. Other members of the Strikers

include Ashley Beanblossom, Blair Connors, Annita DeGiglio, Whitney

Gaeta, Danae Lucas, Ann Ludolph, Natalie Meyers, Jessica Shannon, Erin

Silverlake, Lauren Swensen, and Krista Thompson.