PREP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Boys’ 2-A : Starless Laguna Beach Finds Way to the Final

Back in December, they were rarely mentioned. A few weeks later, people started to talk about them, but almost as an afterthought. And, now, they are in the championship game.

But, still, the Laguna Beach High School boys’ soccer team remains fairly anonymous.

Recognition may come tonight. Laguna Beach will play Central Union of El Centro for the Southern Section 2-A title at 6 p.m. at Gahr High School.

“It this team was going to have its picture taken, they should all be wearing bib overalls and work boots, with lunch pails and soccer balls in their hands,” said Bob Miranda, father of goalkeeper Erik Miranda. “They play like a blue-collar team.”

Laguna Beach (21-3-3)has reached the championship without flashy play, without superstar players. The key, all involved agree, has been hard work and a solid team effort.

And that’s the way Coach Foad Naderzad likes it. All season, he has stressed the team over the individual.

“If you have a star and the star gets hurt, then what?” Naderzad said. “We have played 16 or 17 players.”

Last year, Laguna Beach did have a legitimate star in Brandon Cope, who provided most of the Artists’ offense. Laguna Beach finished in a four-way tie for first place in the Pacific Coast League, but, in a mini-playoff situation, did not qualify for the Southern Section playoffs.

This season, Cope is gone, but a solid, if not well-known, group of seniors (Laguna Beach starts just one sophomore and two juniors) has proven successful. The league champions have lost only one game on the field, in nonleague to Dana Hills. Their two other losses occurred through forfeits, a win and a tie against Orange, for using an ineligible player.

“The forfeits gave us an extra push,” Naderzad said. “After that, we came back with a vengeance.”

All season, the parts of the whole have been doing their job. Among them: Goalie Miranda has seven shutouts and had 22 saves in the Artists’ 3-2 semifinal victory over Laguna Hills. Forward Jeff Poe has scored 18 goals, 17 in the regular season and just one in the playoffs while he has been playing with a sore shoulder. Fullback Mike Davis has assisted on several scores with his strong throw-ins, placing the ball directly in front of the goal. Bert Jaeger, a German exchange student, has been a welcome addition at midfield.

“Inwardly, I think we’re a little surprised to be in the final,” Erik Miranda said. “But we’ve really pulled together as a unit.”

The players agree that last year’s disappointment, coupled with this season’s forfeits, have made the team stronger.

“After what happened, there was no way we were going to lose,” Davis said.

But Laguna Beach still has one more hurdle. And it’s a big one.

Central (23-1) has a 22-game winning streak. And it, too, has succeeded through a total team effort. Goalkeeper Reuben Salazar has 15 shutouts. Forward Sergio Ramirez has scored 26 goals, forward Fernando Martinez has scored 24 and forward Sean Adkins 12. Midfielder Temo Delatorre has scored 18 goals and midfielder Tsuneya Ikeda, a sophomore, has added 13 goals and 14 assists.

In contrast to Laguna Beach, which is in the final for the first time, Central has championship experience. In 1986, Central tied Brea-Olinda in the title game and six players who were sophomores on that team are now starting seniors.

“We play a Latin-style game, with speed and quickness,” Coach Nabil Noujaim said. “I have heard Laguna Beach plays a more Anglo-style of soccer, more physical.”

Central beat the two Orange County teams it faced in the playoffs, Bolsa Grande in the quarterfinals and Pacifica in the semifinals, both by scores of 3-0.

But Laguna Beach isn’t worried.

“I know they can do it,” Naderzad said. “I believe.”