Griffins Get Away Clean in 3-0 Win

Jamie Ackerman’s jersey told the story.

Despite standing in ankle-deep mud for much of the Southern Section Division I quarterfinal playoff game Friday, the Los Alamitos goalkeeper was only slightly speckled following the Griffins’ 3-0 victory over visiting Capistrano Valley.

“And this was all from warmups,” Ackerman said.

It was the third consecutive shutout for Los Alamitos and 14th this season.

Los Alamitos Coach Trey Scharlin scrapped his diamond-shaped defense this season in favor of an flat back line anchored by Nick Koromelas, Andrew Elgin and Shay Murphy.

The arrangement limited Capistrano Valley’s ability to work in close and left Ackerman simply pulling long shots out the air.

“It cuts off all the shots,” Ackerman said. “It doesn’t give them much room to shoot.”

The victory advanced the Griffins to the semifinals for the first time since 1992, when they won a Division III title. Los Alamitos (19-2-5) will play Tuesday against Long Beach Millikan or Bell Gardens, whose quarterfinal was postponed because of poor field conditions and rescheduled for today.

Capistrano Valley (22-5-5) played much of the game without top goal-scorer Brent Barnes, who has a hamstring injury. Defenders Casey McConnell (knee) and Eric Linville (concussion) couldn’t play because of injuries suffered in the Cougars’ second-round win over Saddleback, and reserve striker Greg Robertson had to sit after receiving a red card against Saddleback.

Capistrano Valley Coach Ron Willms said the injury bug has been with the Cougars almost all season.

“I can’t ever remember a season like this,” said Willms, who completed his 24th season at the school. “It’s amazing we ever got to the quarterfinals.”

The shortage of experienced bodies on the Cougar defense helped Los Alamitos take an early 1-0 lead.

Michael Munoz was unmarked in the middle of the field when a long pass from the sideline left the senior midfielder one on one with Capistrano Valley goalkeeper Zach Mikelson. Munoz took one touch and then beat Mikelson low and to his left.

Later in the first half, junior midfielder Cameron Kolovos gave the Griffins a 2-0 lead, skillfully keeping possession in a crowd, then slamming the ball into the net from a tough angle.

Andrew Bornstein made it 3-0 late in the game when he chipped the ball over an onrushing Mikelson.