‘92-’93 PREP PREVIEW: BOYS’ SOCCER : El Dorado Goalkeeper Back After Bad Break

Instincts are what makes Blayne Leitner an exceptional high school goalkeeper. Instincts also nearly ended his career.

The scene was the soccer field at El Dorado High School last season. Leitner, as usual, was in goal for the Golden Hawks with a shutout in the works. It would have been his 13th of the season.

Suddenly, a Cypress player broke free with the ball. Leitner reacted by charging out of the box and attempting a slide tackle.

“All I can remember after that was the pain,” Leitner said. “I tried to get up, but I couldn’t.”

Standing was difficult with a right leg that moved like a slinky.

Leitner had broken his tibia and fibula in the collision. The injury finished his season, and almost ended his career. The leg was so mangled that doctors had to insert three rods to help it mend.

The chances of playing again were slim, he was told. But instincts told Leitner otherwise.

“I was hesitant at first because people didn’t think I would be back,” Leitner said. “The doctor told me he wasn’t sure whether I could play. But I thought I could.”

And that was enough.

Leitner, a senior, will play goalkeeper for the Golden Hawks this season. After months of rehabilitation, he has recovered to the point where he can pick up where he left off, which is at the top of the goalkeeper class.

Last season, he was a Times all-Orange County first-team selection.

“When Blayne is healthy, he’s the best goalkeeper in Orange County,” former El Dorado Coach Gary Imai said. “He has amazing skills.”

Those skills were severely tested during the summer, when Leitner was put through a rigorous rehabilitation program.

He worked out four to five days a week, three to four hours per session. He lifted weights and stretched the leg, limbering up the ligaments.

It was painful work, but necessary.

“The hardest thing would be not playing again,” Leitner said. “So I worked.”

It paid off. In fact, he was able to return in time to play the last six games for El Dorado’s football team.

Leitner was slowed by a special cast in games and practices, but he still alternated at receiver.

“That took a lot of personal courage on Blayne’s part,” El Dorado football Coach Rick Jones said. “He really battled to get back.”

While football was important to Leitner, soccer remained his passion.

College coaches were calling last season, trying to entice the 5-foot-9, 155-pound Leitner. They are still interested but are waiting to see how successful his recovery will be.

One thing is certain, when 100%, Leitner is a talent.

“He has better instincts than any goalkeeper I’ve ever had,” Imai said. “I remember one game against Sonora where he stopped three penalty kicks. He’s like a basketball player timing a rebound off the rim. It’s incredible.”

Said Leitner: “I don’t know how I do it. I guess it’s just natural.”

Leitner began playing soccer in youth leagues when he was 7. He soon progressed to club teams.

He spent most of his early days as a forward, though.

“When I was 12, the club team I was on didn’t have a goalkeeper,” Leitner said. “They asked for volunteers. Nobody wanted to, so I did. I discovered that I liked the position.”

Still, he returned to forward as a freshman at El Dorado because the Golden Hawks had a senior keeper. The following season, he started and had nine shutouts.

The Golden Hawks reached the Southern Section 2-A final before losing to Bell Gardens. Last season, they appeared on their way to winning the title.

Leitner set a goal of 15 shutouts last season and had 12 with three matches left in the regular season. Then came the Cypress match.

With Leitner out, the Golden Hawks’ chances of winning the 2-A were seriously reduced. They still won the Empire League and finished 15-3-8, but were eliminated by Anaheim in the second round of the playoffs.

“That was the most frustrating part about getting hurt,” Leitner said. “We felt we could have won it all. We had such a good defense in front of me. It was just bad luck.”

But Leitner’s fortunes improved as the summer went on. The exercise and stretching improved his range of motion.

By the time school began, he was certain he’d be back.

“During the summer, I thought it was doubtful he would be back,” Golden Hawk Coach Manny Toledo said. “Having him back changes our outlook completely. He has tremendous skills.”

Leitner expects to be at full speed by the time league play starts. He also expects to have his nerve tested by other teams.

But he knows no other way to play than by his instincts.

“I can’t change,” Leitner said. “I can’t back down.”