Boys’ 2-A Soccer Playoffs : Laguna Beach Gains Final With Victory in Overtime

The Laguna Hills High School boys’ soccer team had the emotion, the revenge motive and--for most of the game’s second half--the ball in almost the right spot. But almost doesn’t get a team into the championship game.

For the fourth time this season, Laguna Beach beat Pacific Coast League rival Laguna Hills, 3-2, in a 2-A semifinal overtime match at Laguna Hills Tuesday.

Laguna Hills finished the season 17-8-2. Laguna Beach (21-3-3) will play Central for the Southern Section championship Saturday at Gahr High School at 6 p.m.

“Emotionally, they (Laguna Hills) had nothing to lose,” Laguna Beach Coach Foad Naderzad said. “We tried to slow down the game and take them out of it emotionally.”

That emotion showed when Laguna Hills, trailing 2-1, tied the score 10 minutes into the second half. Halfback Brian Casagranda headed the ball in for the score and Laguna Hills pressured the rest of the game but failed to score again. Regulation time ended in a 2-2 tie.

Laguna Beach won it when, with five minutes gone in the first of two overtime periods, Mike Davis’ throw-in was headed in front of the goal by Jim Shelton. Todd Austin took the pass and booted in the decisive goal.

Naderzad describes his team as well-balanced, lacking in stars, and the Artists played that way Tuesday, with each goal scored by a different player. Jeff Poe scored first, 30 seconds into the game, on an assist by Jason Crabbe. Crabbe scored the next goal midway through the first half.

But one Artist’s performance did stand out. Goalie Erik Miranda had 22 saves, including eight in the two overtime periods.

Laguna Hills goalie Kevin Casagranda had 13 saves. Kevin Macane scored the Hawks’ first goal, on a direct kick from 25 yards out, five minutes into the game.