Sunset League girls’ soccer teams fit to be tied

Eighty minutes.

That’s it this season for Sunset League girls’ soccer teams, after a rule change in the offseason ended “golden goal” sudden death overtime for league games.

Last year, teams played two 10-minute sudden death overtime periods if regulation ended in a draw. Edison scored a golden goal late in each of its games against Los Alamitos, the second one by Taylor Wasserman clinching the league title in the final game.

This season, each team is awarded a point if regulation ends in a draw, and the game ends. Coaches are divided on the change, but Newport Harbor coach Justin Schroeder is a proponent, even if his team hadn’t earned ties with league-leading Los Alamitos in each of the teams’ two games this year in league.

“We beat each other up enough, no need to add opportunities to do it more,” Schroeder said. “I can feel good about a game in the Sunset League ending in a tie, because I can guarantee that good soccer was played in those 80 minutes by both teams. At that point, there doesn’t need to be a winner or loser. The ties really show how close each team is in the league.”

Los Alamitos coach Pat Rossi also agreed with the rule change.

“I think in 80 minutes, if you can’t win, then both teams deserve a point,” Rossi said. “I know in most American sports, you’re not, but here in soccer you’re used to getting ties. It’s part of the game.”

One coach who was against the change was Huntington Beach coach Raul Ruiz. His team has two ties in league, against Fountain Valley and Edison.

“To be honest with you, it’s unfair,” Ruiz said. “I feel like the [old] rule gets you better prepared for playoffs. I voted to keep the overtime, because that’s important. It allows you to prepare better for playoffs, that’s what it comes down to.”

Just two of 30 Sunset League girls’ soccer games last year ended in a tie (7%) following the 20-minute overtime period. This year, through 21 games, five of them (24%) have ended in ties.

Los Alamitos (5-0-2 in league) has a two-game lead on Edison and Huntington Beach (both 3-2-2 in league) with three games remaining.

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Seybold inducted into Mater Dei Monarch Hall of Fame

Mater Dei High boys’ water polo senior Jack Seybold was inducted into the Monarch Hall of Fame during an on-campus ceremony Jan. 18.

Seybold had his cap No. 17 retired, and his robe and cap are now on display outside the Mater Dei gym with other athletes from various sports.

Seybold, bound for Stanford, was a four-year varsity player and two-year captain for the boys’ water polo team. He won two CIF Southern Section Division 1 titles, in 2015 and 2017, and was the 2017 Division 1 Player of the Year.

Seybold also is a two-time Academic All-American with a 4.4 grade-point average.

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CdM’s Wilde, Newport Harbor’s Grew commit

A pair of Back Bay seniors have made their college men’s water polo plans known recently.

CdM’s Henry Wilde announced via Instagram that he has committed to UCLA, while Newport Harbor’s Jason Grew announced on Twitter that he has committed to UC Irvine.

Wilde was a senior attacker and co-captain for the Sea Kings, while Grew played center defender for the Sailors.

matthew.szabo@latimes.com

Twitter: @mjszabo