Dramatic triumph

Photos

COSTA MESA — Harbor View’s players rushed Cameron Davis and all the boys celebrated their championship Sunday at Costa Mesa Farm Complex.

Harbor View had good reason to cheer and revel, as Davis put an end to a dramatic boys’ fifth- and sixth-grade silver division title game in the ninth annual Daily Pilot Cup.

Davis scored the clinching goal in a penalty-kick shootout to give Harbor View the victory over Harbor Day, after the teams had tied, 2-2, in regulation.

Davis’ penalty-kick shot made it, 4-2, and helped Harbor View finish its rally. Trailing, 2-1, Harbor View’s Ben Palitz scored with five minutes left in regulation to send the game into the shootout.

After the end of regulation and after a brief meeting with the official, both teams huddled anxiously at the midfield line.

Then, Harbor View’s Hagan Turninger put the pressure on Harbor Day, making a save on the first shot of the penalty-kick session.

Harbor View used some strategy, as Turninger had temporarily replaced Hampton Irwin in goal for the shot.

“I switched Hagen to goalie because he [knew the Harbor Day shooter] from club,” Harbor View Coach Patrick Turninger said. “We wanted to ice him a little bit by putting his friend in the box. Fortunately, it worked out,”

Harbor View went on to net their next three shots and won the shootout, 4-2.

The team celebration began as Harbor View huddled and jumped up and down in excitement.

Harbor View’s change in goal after regulation wasn’t the only strategy being used.

Player familiarity was evident throughout the match as coaches scrambled to neutralize threats on the opposing side of the ball by strategically subbing players in and out of the game.

The first 30-minute half began at a feverish pace as both teams tried to establish possession. After a few sequences of back and forth action, Harbor View forward Hagen Turninger scored on a breakaway line-drive shot for the game’s first goal.

Facing a 1-0 deficit, Harbor Day exhibited a competitive edge which would get them back in the game.

“We had confidence in coming back,” Harbor Day Coach Barry Schwartz said. “We were down twice in the tournament and were able to come back to close deficits,” .

Landon Thies tied the score in the 14th minute after netting an arching shot from the left side of the field.

Harbor Day goalie Elijah Janes helped swing the momentum toward his team after making a spectacular save in a one-on-one situation. Shortly before the half, Harbor Day forward Jake Griffin scored on a looping shot into the upper left corner of the net.

Harbor Day led 2-1 at halftime.

As play resumed after the intermission, Harbor View’s defense intensified in front of goalie Hampton Irwin and its offense grew aggressive, offering plenty of shots on goal.

Harbor Day defenseman Luke Shea saved a potential game-tying goal after Janes became entangled with a Harbor View forward.

Harbor Day’s defense ultimately gave in when Palitz netted the equalizer with five minutes to play. 2-2

Although his team was victorious, Coach Turninger mentioned his displeasure with the penalty-kick system. Teams at the Daily Pilot Cup don’t play overtime periods because of time allotted for field use throughout the week.

“When you get to this point, its unfortunate that you have to settle it this way and not out on the field,” he said. “But, someone has to win.”