Buena Player Better

Jeff Larson, the Buena High football player who was paralyzed on his left side by a blood clot growing in his neck, was pronounced “80% better” on Monday by his doctor.

Larson, a reserve defensive end, was hospitalized late Saturday night after collapsing at his job as a ride attendant at a Ventura entertainment park. The clot is believed to have been caused by a tear in Larson’s right internal carotid artery that he apparently suffered in a Sept. 26 game against Newbury Park. The carotid is a major artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain.

Dr. Paul Vespa, director of the neuro-critical unit at UCLA, said that aside from some mild lingering affects from the stroke, Larson should eventually regain his ability to walk, talk and use his left arm again.

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Soccer coaches hired: John Robb, 34, formerly the girls’ coach at Granada Hills and Grant high schools, has been hired to coach the Canyon boys’ team.

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Eric Stanford, 27, a former All-Golden League forward for Palmdale High, has been hired as coach of the Littlerock boys’ team. He is Littlerock’s third coach in three seasons.

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Soccer results: The Cal State Northridge men’s soccer team defeated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Sunday when former Cleveland High standout Luis Castro scored 11 minutes into overtime. The Matadors are 2-9, 1-1 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo fell to 3-7, 0-2.