Laguna Beach wins big in dramatic fashion

The Laguna Beach AYSO U10 boys’ soccer team pulled off a huge win recently at the Area 11 Regional playoff tournament, beating Mission Viejo in a shootout after tying the game at 2-2.

The Limonators finished as regional and Area 11 region champions.

Under the big lights of the Lake Forest Sports Park, the Limonators held on to outscore Mission Viejo in an intense shootout, making history where few Laguna Beach teams have been able to compete against larger populated neighboring towns.

The boys’ team, consisting of 10 players ages 8 and 9, went into the regional tournament as assumed underdogs in a two-day, four-game tournament style playoff, against the regional championship teams from 10 different regions in Southern California.

Head Coach Jason Reidel and Assistant Coach Andrew Maltin supported and motivated their team to outscore opponents in three out of four games, beating teams from Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo.

Through it all, the players worked together and encouraged each other to accomplish an outstanding and unprecedented victory. The team will move on to represent Southern Orange County in the sectional tournament in February.

— Reader submission