GIRLS PREVIEW : Laguna Hills Class of ’88 Still Impressive

In December of 1984, Kerry Krause, the Laguna Hills High School girls’ soccer coach, stood on the sidelines surveying the freshmen on the first day of practice.

Krause, a part-time coach and full-time dentist, was impressed. The freshmen were dribbling, trapping, hooking and passing with more skill and agility than many of Laguna Hills’ upperclassmen.

“I told my wife, ‘We have something incredible here,’ ” said Krause, whose wife, Fran, coaches the Hawks’ junior varsity. “That group had so much talent it was obscene.”

Led by five freshmen, the Hawks won the first of four consecutive league championships that season. The first two championships were in the South Coast League, the next two in the Pacific Coast League, which Laguna Hills joined after moving from the 4-A to the 3-A division in 1986.

Last year, Laguna Hills, top-ranked all season, finished 21-1-4, losing to Alemany in the Southern Section 3-A quarterfinals.

Today, the Hawks (16-5-1) are the fourth-seeded team entering the 3-A playoffs. Laguna Hills plays host to Rosary in a first-round match at 3 p.m. today.

Through four years, Laguna Hills has owed the majority of its success to the class of ‘88, which includes:

Xanne Brakke, who plays stopper, forward, sweeper and midfielder. If you can’t spot her by position, just look for the jersey with an X on it.

Jenny Cowper, center halfback. Cowper, who also stars on the volleyball and track and field teams, has great speed and is the team’s most gutsy player.

Lynn Lambert, goalkeeper. She made the All-Southern Section first team last season after recording 23 shutouts and has accepted a soccer scholarship to California.

Heather McIntyre, sweeper and team captain. Many area coaches say McIntyre is one of the country’s best high school players. Said Krause: “Heather is so cool with the ball, she does things I can’t believe can be done. She simply amazes people.”

Joanna Noble, forward. She is quick and intelligent, and she is a big playmaker who leads the team with 16 goals and 7 assists.

Twelve Orange County teams will play 3-A first-round matches at 3 today.

Esperanza (19-1-2) is the second-seeded team after Simi Valley (21-2-1). The Aztecs, led by sophomore forward Linda Lunceford and sweeper Colleen Gamblin, will play host to Pacifica, which defeated Sonora in a wild-card match Tuesday.

Despite Mater Dei’s overall record of 24-1, the Monarchs were not seeded but face wild-card winner Moreno Valley (10-5-4) at home today. Los Alamitos (14-4-2), which finished second in the Empire League to Esperanza, will travel to Lakewood (10-8-1).

In Orange County battles, Villa Park (10-7-2) will play host to La Quinta (15-4-1) and Troy (8-2-2) will play host to Cypress (9-5-2). Canyon (14-5-3) will travel to third-ranked San Gorgonio (24-1-0).

Other 3-A matches today include Millikan (10-9-1) at Kennedy (14-5) and Woodbridge (8-2-2) at Long Beach Wilson (11-4-2).

In today’s 2-A matches:

Brea-Olinda (10-2-4), winner of its first Orange League championship, will play host to El Segundo (8-9-2). Cerritos (14-5-2) will travel to third-seeded Redondo (14-2-1) and Valencia (11-4-1) will travel to Hemet (18-3).

In Friday’s 4-A matches:

Top-seeded Mission Viejo (22-0-2), the defending 4-A champion, will play host to Palos Verdes (11-11-1). Sea View League champion Corona del Mar (11-5-5) will play host to Marina (6-6-7). El Toro (8-4-9) will travel to fourth-seeded Mira Costa (16-5-4). University (7-6-4) will travel to third-seeded Upland (16-1-6); Capistrano Valley (15-4-3) will play host to Hawthorne (16-3-4) and Sunset League champion Edison (14-5-5) will play host to Claremont.