Agoura Beats Calabasas in Overtime, Claims Frontier League Soccer Title

It’s hard not to like the way Agoura High plays soccer. The Chargers are ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section 1-A coaches’ poll. Even John Reich, the coach of Frontier League rival Calabasas, enjoys watching them.

“They play the way I’ve always coached,” Reich said. “I love to watch them.”

And he hates to lose to them.

So much, in fact, that the Coyotes’ coach came up with a special game plan after Calabasas’ last loss to Agoura. He switched a few players here, picked on a few weak spots there and hoped that it would a difference.

It did--except for the final score. Agoura won, 3-2, in overtime to capture the Frontier League championship.

But the fact that the Coyotes made it to overtime was a feat in itself. It was the third time the two teams have met this season, and Calabasas keeps getting closer.

This time, after two close shutouts against Calabasas, it was Agoura that had to play catch-up.

In the game’s first minutes, sophomore Paul Ratcliffe scored on a near-perfect indirect penalty kick.

Agoura, which dominated the entire game with two dozen shots on goal, came back minutes later on a goal by Rob Sahm.

Midway through the second half, Calabasas scored again. Sweeper Craig Diamond took a rebound on an indirect penalty kick and passed it off to Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe took the pass behind two Agoura defenders to make the score.

Agoura again picked up the pace, and sent the game into overtime on a score by Mike Nielsen.

Midway through the first five-minute overtime, Kevin Jauch made a good crossing-pass to Nielsen, who scored easily. Calabasas tried to rally, but the score remained, Agoura (7-0-1 in league, 15-1-2 overall) earning a Frontier League title.

The story may not end there. Calabasas, 5-2-1 in league, 13-5-3 overall, finished second in league and earned a spot in the playoffs.