Crescenta Valley Soccer Club’s Girls Under 13 put on a scintillating show of skill and determination last weekend defeating a talented Corona Eagles team to win the coveted California Cup.

The CVSC girls began the quest for the cup on a frosty morning beneath the snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains in Highland and won the trophy in a fourth game on a sweltering winter Sunday afternoon with a tenacious 1-0 victory.

In a lively and cohesive display the CVSC girls took the initiative from the start in their final game against the Eagles, dominating control of the ball and preventing Corona’s fast break offense from gaining the upper hand. Under the direction of Coach Reggie Rivas and Asst. Coach Jorden Schulz, Crescenta Valley finally made the break through about 20 minutes into the first half.

The buildup of several uninterrupted passes began when CVSC stopper Heather Turcios intercepted a long ball. Right midfielder Annie Winton then wiped a cross in from the right and left midfielder Sarah Patrick neatly passed it back across the face of the goal to Izzy Costilla, who cleverly slotted a dipping shot from six yards under the diving goalkeeper’s right hand.

Striker Costilla repeatedly tested the Eagles big burly goalkeeper. Powerful playmaker Dylan Harrow time and time held off three opponents opening the way for a surging midfield anchored by Lauren Busta and Cristina Venneri. But a master class in defending by Crescenta Valley’s defense – left back Sophia Bonanni, MianneKim Zuiderveen, Turcios and Kayci Jatico – secured the victory.

With pressure mounting, the Eagles hit the cross bar from a free kick. When the Eagles’ offense did break through Crescenta Valley’s goalie Clare Shapiro stepped up, making several stops and saving a wickedly dipping fee kick in the second half. But those chances rarely came for Corona as midfielders Emily Frink, Amanda Burch, Dalia Farazdaghi and McKenna Sandoval shutdown the passing lanes. Busta in the final minutes chipped Corona’s goalie and the lobbed ball seemingly cross the goal line but was not called a goal as an assistant referee was unable to see it.

The victory was the third in four games for CVSC in the championship round robin. It came despite losing team leader midfielder Rachel Bird to injury when she suffered a concussion in the first cup game.

The win secured the cup as the only team to beat CVSC lost 2 to 0 to Corona. CVSC also subdued two other teams 3-0 and 2-0 on the road to victory with goals by Patrick, Burch, Harrow, Busta and Costilla.

Story and photo provided by Sandra BURCH

  CV Soccer club, Under 13 win cup