Orange County Player of the Week : Vlcek Puts Orange a Cut Above the Rest in Soccer

Credit Jim Vlcek for creating the new style in Orange High School’s soccer program: the team flat top. Not the average, square, run-of-the-shears model, but one slightly feathered at the sides, with just enough bristle to ward off nesting sparrows.

The Panthers claim their hair styles provide a psychological boost that helped them upset Laguna Hills, 4-2, Friday. It was the Hawks’ first defeat.

“The cuts got us pumped up, definitely,” said Vlcek, who scored all four goals. “And we had a score to settle.”

The story began Jan. 13, the day before the Panthers’ Pacific Coast League opener against Laguna Hills. Having switched from the powerful Century League after last season, the Panthers believed that they would dominate the new league.

One team member, Paul Vince, told the school newspaper, The Reflector, he was so confident the Panthers would beat the Hawks, the entire team would get flat tops if it lost.

That next day, Laguna Hills won, 2-1.

“We didn’t know how fired up they were, or why,” said John Garcia, Orange coach. “Then after the game, the Laguna Hills kids came out waving this huge pair of plastic, yellow scissors and saying, ‘Come and get your flat tops. Come and get your flat tops.’ ”

Garcia later found out the source of Laguna Hills’ inspiration: The Hawks had a copy of The Reflector, complete with Vince’s comments. It seems that Pacific Coast League campuses often exchange school newspapers.

Vince got his haircut the next day--at Garcia’s suggestion.

Three weeks later, the Panthers were scheduled to play Laguna Hills again. Vlcek, believing his teammates needed a psychological lift, took them to a barber shop. They left with hair styles only a low-pile carpet could love.

“Jimmy thought the flat tops would make us look meaner,” said Joe Sanchez, a senior forward. “He wanted the game really bad. He hates to lose. He’s the type of guy who takes control of the situation--and he did. He got us really fired up.”

Vlcek, The Times’ Player of the Week, scored 10 goals last week, beginning with six against Costa Mesa Wednesday. That set a school single-week scoring record. Ali Kazemaini, who now plays for the Cleveland Force in the Major Indoor Soccer League, scored nine during one week in 1979.

After 20 games this season, Vlcek, a senior center forward, leads Orange with 20 goals and 7 assists. The Panthers are 3-3 in league, 11-7-2 overall.

“I just got a little lucky,” Vlcek said. “I got great passes and was in the right place at the right time.”

Did the haircuts really make a difference?

“Probably, but because we deserved it,” Vlcek said. “We played really hard. And we look all right too.”