Boys’ Soccer Playoffs : Tragedy Serves to Bring Laguna Hills Closer

Laguna Beach High School has beaten the Laguna Hills boys’ soccer team three times in Pacific Coast League play. But Laguna Hills Coach Scott Johnson isn’t worried about his team going into today’s 2-A semifinal match against the Artists at Laguna Hills at 3 p.m.

Johnson thinks Laguna Hills (17-7-2) has mental toughness working in its favor.

The Hawks started the playoffs in as a wild-card team and have survived four tough matches.

“With every team there are intangibles that a coach can’t control, that can make a team play better,” Johnson said.

One of those intangibles is a tragedy that the team was forced to deal with during last season’s playoffs. The day before the first-round match, the father of two Laguna Hills players--twins Brian and Kevin Casagranda--died suddenly of a heart attack. Both boys chose to play in the match, which Laguna Hills lost, 2-1, to Troy on a last-minute goal.

Johnson said the team has become closer because of the tragedy.

“Rich (the Casagrandas’ father) was very involved with the team,” Johnson said. “This has helped the team pull together. We are a very close-knit unit.”

Pat Richards, the team’s leading scorer who grew up next to the Casagrandas, said: “I think about it on bus rides to the match. I remember how it felt that day, after the loss (to Troy).”

Kevin, a halfback, and Brian, the team’s goalie, said their father’s memory serves as a motivational force.

“I have a cross from the funeral that I hold before matches and we listen to music,” Kevin said.

This season, on the anniversary of Rich Casagranda’s death, Laguna Hills came from behind to beat Valencia, 4-3, in the first round.

Last week, the Hawks beat La Salle on penalty kicks in the second round and defeated Brea-Olinda, 2-1, in Friday’s quarterfinals. Brian Casagranda had 13 saves in the victory, which was the seventh straight for the Hawks, who finished third in the Pacific Coast League.

“We are really doing well now,” Johnson said. “We’re peaking at the right time.”

Laguna Beach (20-4-2) beat Laguna Hills by scores of 3-2, 3-0 and 3-2 on its way to the league championship. Johnson said he is pleased to have the home-field advantage because Laguna Beach’s narrow field is a definite plus for the Artists, who score many of their goals off throw-ins. But the third-seeded Artists can also win on the road, defeating Walnut, 2-0, in Friday’s quarterfinals at Walnut. Goalie Eric Miranda had 13 saves in the match.

In the other 2-A semifinal:

Central at Pacifica, 3 p.m.--Pacifica was lucky to win the home-field advantage for this one. Another Garden Grove League team, Bolsa Grande, traveled five hours by bus to El Centro for the quarterfinals last week and lost, 3-0. Top-seeded Central (22-1), the Desert Valley League champion, is playing with five seniors who were sophomores on the 1986 team that shared the 2-A championship with Brea-Olinda.

Pacifica (12-6-4), which finished third in the Garden Grove League, is the Cinderella team of the 2-A. The Mariners started in the wild-card bracket, and knocked off fourth-seeded La Mirada, 2-1, in the first round, and won their last two matches, both in overtime. The Mariners defeated Baldwin Park in the second round, 4-2, on penalty kicks, then beat La Canada, 2-1, in overtime in the quarterfinals. Daniel Barber, who missed much of the season with a groin injury, scored both goals in the second overtime. Junior Eric Berg also has been playing well for Pacifica, scoring in each of the first three playoff matches. Goalie Bob Powell had 11 saves in the victory over Baldwin Park.

In a 4-A semifinal:

Newbury Park at Fountain Valley, 3 p.m.--Fountain Valley (16-5-4) survived its quarterfinal trip to Simi Valley, winning on penalty kicks, 4-2, after the regulation ended in a scoreless tie. Goalie Tim Morenc, who has helped the Barons to 10 shutouts, finished with 15 saves, including two penalty kicks. Derek Mahoney has scored three goals in the last two matches for Fountain Valley.

Newbury Park (18-5-1), which finished second in the Marmonte League ahead of Simi Valley, defeated Damien in the quarterfinals, also on penalty kicks. The winner of the match will meet the winner of the Royal-Alta Loma semifinal match in Friday’s championship at Gahr High School.