Slayback Takes Leading Role Off Field, Too : Boys’ soccer: Laguna Hills senior and Times’ player of year discovers that his training as an actor is a useful tool in sport.

Brian Slayback has always put on a good show at Laguna Hills High School.

Sure, the guy was a demon on the soccer field this season. Slayback, The Times’ player of the year in boys’ soccer, set a school record with 24 goals and assisted on 17 others in leading the Hawks to the Southern Section 2-A championship.

But even off the field, his show must go on.

Slayback, a senior, has been a devoted soccer player during his four years at Laguna Hills. However, he also has found time for other pursuits, such as acting.

In junior high school, Slayback took a drama class and liked it. He also found that he had some ability as an actor.

In fact, Slayback was good enough to land the lead in “Bye-Bye Birdie” as an eighth-grader.

“It just seemed like something that would be fun to do,” Slayback said. “I really never thought I would really do anything on stage. I was kind of surprised when I won my first role.”

Slayback continued acting through high school. He also has had a small role in a play at Irvine Valley College.

His biggest part in high school was in the production of “Grease,” a musical about high school life in the ‘50s. Slayback played Kinicky, one of the main roles.

“I really liked the role, because the character was a lot like me,” Slayback said. “He is outgoing, outspoken and was out for a good time.”

The only thing about the character Slayback didn’t like was that Kinicky had to sing, which is not one of Slayback’s strong suits.

“Brian was really great in the show, but he doesn’t have much of a voice,” Soccer Coach Scott Johnson said.

Still, Slayback managed to muddle through, even in the face of adversity.

Slayback had to do one of his solos while sitting on a prop car. During one performance, the car began to fall apart in the middle of the song.

“We had used the front end of a real car that night,” Slayback said. “It didn’t have a windshield, just the frame. Some one leaned on it too hard and the whole thing collapsed. I just kept on singing.”

As much as he enjoys acting, Slayback knows his future is on the soccer field. In fact, he passed on this year’s production of “Once Upon A Mattress” to concentrate on the sport.

Besides playing soccer for Laguna Hills, Slayback also is a member of the Mission Viejo Pateadors, a club team. Still, he’s discovered that his brief training as actor has helped him on the soccer field.

Against Woodbridge this season, Laguna Hills was trailing, 2-0, when Slayback was lightly bumped inside the penalty box. He made a point of falling to the ground hard and was awarded a penalty kick.

“The guy barely touched me, but I made it look a little better,” Slayback said. “I went to the ground like I had been tripped and let out a yell.”

Slayback scored on the penalty kick and the Hawks rallied to win, 3-2.

“Brian is a smart player and he’s been known to take a dive or two,” Johnson said. “He deserved an Oscar for that one.”

Others named to The Times’ 1990 All-Orange County first team were: Tres Martin and Ricky Heimer of Orange High; Armando Orizaba, Katella; Mike Tsarnas, Anaheim; Jaysn Ochs, Brea-Olinda; Ricky Rodriguez, Marina; Brad Wilson, El Toro; Earl Norman, Cypress; Jason Hooper, Santiago, and Shawn Kane, Servite.

THE TIMES’ 1990 ALL-COUNTY BOYS’ SOCCER

FIRST TEAM

Position: Goalie Name: Tres Martin School: Orange Year: Senior

Despite missing five games, Martin finished with 10 shutouts and allowed more than one goal only twice.

Position: Forward Name: Ricky Heimer School: Orange Year: Senior

Heimer had 19 goals and 11 assists during the season, including six goals in the playoffs.

Position: Forward Name: Armando Orizaba School: Katella Year: Junior

Orizaba had scored 16 goals and 12 assists. He was the most valuable player in the Empire League.

Position: Forward Name: Mike Tsarnas School: Anaheim Year: Junior

Tsarnas had 23 goals and 19 assists. He was the most valuable player in the Orange League.

Position: Forward Name: Jaysn Ochs School: Brea-Olinda Year: Senior

After a slow start, Ochs scored 14 goals and helped the Wildcats win their sixth title in seven seasons.

Position: Forward Name: Ricky Rodriguez School: Marina Year: Senior

Rodriguez had 14 goals and 14 assists. He was the most valuable player in the Sunset League.

Position: Midfielder Name: Brad Wilson School: El Toro Year: Senior

Wilson helped the Chargers to a 3-A title and was named the South Coast League’s most valuable player.

Position: Midfielder Name: Brian Slayback School: Laguna Hills Year: Senior

Slayback set a school record with 24 goals and helped the Hawks win the 2-A championship.

Position: Defender Name: Earl Norman School: Cypress Year: Senior

Norman helped the Centurions to the Empire League title, and was named the league’s top defensive player.

Position: Defender Name: Jason Hooper School: Santiago Year: Senior

Hooper had 19 goals for the Cavaliers, and was named the Garden Grove League’s most valuable player.

Position: Defender Name: Shawn Kane School: Servite Year: Senior

Besides being a strong defensive player, Kane also had five goals and eight assists.

SECOND TEAM

Position Name School Year Goalie Josh Klein Newport Harbor Senior Forward Luis Cevallos Mater Dei Junior Forward Gus Plasencia Santa Ana Junior Forward Mike Voss Esperanza Senior Midfielder Scott Clark Laguna Hills Senior Midfielder Luis Guerrero Saddleback Senior Midfielder Val Gutierrez Orange Senior Midfielder Robert Sanchez Santa Ana Senior Midfielder Cory Senko Cypress Senior Defender Greg Clapper Mission Viejo Senior Defender Justin Zayas Orange Senior