SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ SOCCER PLAYOFFS : 2-A : Laguna Hills Earns First Trip to Final With 2-1 Victory

Senior halfback Brian Slayback scored on a header 9 1/2 minutes into overtime to give Laguna Hills High School a 2-1 victory over Cypress in a 2-A semifinal boys’ soccer match Tuesday at Laguna Hills.

“I just got free in the penalty box,” Slayback said. “I’ve been hitting that one all season.”

Laguna Hills will play Orange--a 3-1 winner over La Serna--at 6 p.m. Saturday at Gahr High. Laguna Hills, which has never before played for a Southern Section boys’ soccer final, finished second in the Pacific Coast League to Orange.

The goal off a throw-in by Scott Clark gave Slayback 24 this season, breaking the school record set by Brian Fleming in the 1986-87 season. Laguna Hills (23-5) tied the score, 1-1, seven minutes into the second half when junior halfback Juan Strutton scored his 17th goal of the season. Laguna Hills has outscored opponents, 49-12, in the second half this season.

Third-seeded Cypress (19-3-5) took a 1-0 on a goal by forward Ray Klug.