Role players step up

COSTA MESA — It was a busy day Saturday for many of the boys on the Harbor View fifth- and sixth-grade Silver Division team.

After topping St. John the Baptist, 5-2, in a Silver Division quarterfinal at the Costa Mesa Farm Sports Complex, the boys hustled back to Harbor View. Many of them were participating in a play Saturday night: “The Wizard of Oz.”

Cameron Davis, a sixth-grader, was one of the boys who rushed off to get ready for the play. But to opponents in the Daily Pilot Cup, he’s beginning to resemble the Wicked Witch of the West.

Davis, who also plays for Newport-Mesa Soccer Club, towers above the competition. He’s “at least” 5-foot-10, Coach Patrick Truninger said. But he did it with his play as well, scoring two goals and adding two assists against St. John.

The effort helped Harbor View advance to today’s Silver Division semifinal against Newport Heights at Costa Mesa High field No. 5 at 9 a.m.

“We have speed and a lot of passing skills,” said Harbor View forward Blake Davidson, whose team has scored opponents, 21-4, in its first four Pilot Cup games. “[Davis] is like our secret weapon.”

Hard to be a big secret when you’re so tall, though.

“Well, he’s not really a secret,” said Harbor View goalie Hampton Erwin, who made eight saves.

The Vikings’ game plan wasn’t a secret either, as they came out aggressive from the start. In the first minute of the game, Davis earned a corner kick, took it himself and passed to Hagen Truninger, who knocked it in. Three minutes later, Davis blasted a long shot from outside the box into the upper part of the net.

Harbor View added to its lead in the 17th minute, when Davis dribbled past a trio of defenders and tapped the ball in with the outside of his foot. The Vikings led, 3-0, at halftime.

“We’ve got a lot of players who are playing club, and there’s a lot of skill on the team,” Patrick Truninger said.

St. John tried to respond in the second half. Six minutes in, Jon Dmitruk took Ethan Monestime’s nice cross, got a breakaway and scored to narrow the gap. But Harbor View would respond midway through the half, when Ian Lundt headed in another Davis corner kick to help put the game away.

Grant Wallace also scored for Harbor View, and Hugo Mondragon added a goal for St. John.

“It was 3-0 [Davis] before we even knew what was happening there,” St. John Coach Tim Green said. “I guess there’s something to be said for scouting a little bit more. But he went around guys, too.”

Brett Davidson, Jack Trush and Matthew Flores helped lead the defensive effort for Harbor View. For St. John, Christian Leon, Matthew Ebuhardt and David Ike were solid defensively.

St. John goalie Mason Cooper, who said he doesn’t play soccer outside the Pilot Cup, was kept busy and made eight saves.

“I just try and block all the goals I can,” Cooper said.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].