Big win for Breakers
It was a key Orange Coast League showdown for the Laguna Beach and Estancia girls’ soccer teams Tuesday at Guyer Field, and it was the host Breakers who rose to the occasion.
Laguna, ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section Division 5, took sole possession of first place in the league standings by turning back the Eagles, 2-0.
The Breakers broke away from a scoreless game by posting two goals in the second half. Coach Bill Rolfing said his team “struggled early” in the first half but strong defensive play by junior defender Emily Addis, junior midfielder Brynn Anderson, freshmen defenders Kerin Onodero and Shanai Auguis, and senior goalie Kara Dunne-Dombrink, allowed the first half to end scoreless.
Freshman forward Blake Turner scored both goals, the first assisted by senior midfielder Ashley Pellow and sophomore midfielder Haylee Jarvis. Her second goal was set up by Auguis.
Rolfing said his team’s “second-half offensive surge” was highlighted by the play of Pellow, sophomore Alden Kramer and junior Anika Pitz controlling the midfield play, and Turner’s goals coming on support from juniors Greer Jacobs, Christine Johnson, sophomores Haylee Jarvis and Shea Skenderian and Kate Kruger. Kramer and Addis combined in the back to force long-range shot attempts by the Eagles.
Dunne-Dombrink recorded 10 saves for the shutout.
“The win Tuesday involved a lot of preparation but in the end, it was a matter of teamwork and determination,” Rolfing said.
With the outcome, the Breakers went to 4-0 in league and 9-3-2 overall. Their last loss was a 2-1 nonleague setback Dec. 10 to Sage Hill. During that 10-match stretch, they have outscored the opposition, 22-4.
When the CIF-SS girls’ soccer rankings came out Tuesday, three OCL teams were bunched in the middle of the Division 5 top 10: in addition to No. 4 Estancia and the No. 6 Breakers, Calvary Chapel came in at No. 5. The Breakers went to Calvary Chapel Thursday for their second showdown of the week, but the score wasn’t available at press time.
The Breakers’ third league win came at the expense of visiting Saddleback Jan. 14. They overcame a sluggish start to shut out the Roadrunners, 3-0. Jarvis scored unassisted for a 1-0 lead, Anderson scored off an assist from Jacobs, and Pellow ended the scoring with a goal off an assist from Johnson.
Dunne-Dombrink again posted the shutout in goal.
“After opening the first two OCL matches (Godinez, Costa Mesa) on the road, it was gratifying to be on the home pitch and secure the win,” Rolfing said.
The Breakers return to league action at Jan. 28, hosting Godinez at Guyer Field to start the second half of their league season.
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Boys soccer
The Breakers were involved in another closely contested Orange Coast League game Wednesday and again, came up on the short end after a 2-1 loss to visiting Estancia at Guyer Field.
Cole Calabrese scored and Bruce Knill picked up the assist for the Breakers who dipped to 0-3-1 in league and 2-4-5 overall.
“This was a tough loss in a very close and competitive game,” Laguna Coach Dan Richards said. “Estancia did a good job converting their chances along with their goalie making a vital stop in the last five minutes to deny us a point.
“I can’t fault the work rate of the lads as they tried as hard as they could to find a way to get a result in the game. Ultimately though, we just didn’t have enough where it really matters which has been the story of the season so far.”
In a league match Jan. 15, the Breakers and visiting Saddleback played to a 1-1 tie. Ben Keiswetter scored and Logan Eastman notched the assist for the Breakers.
“It was good to see the boys come back from going a goal down and grind a tie out of the match,” Richards said. “Ben [Keiswetter] took his chance well from a good delivery from Logan [Eastman].
“It was another disappointing goal we let in and similar to others this season. Mentally, we have been caught sleeping too many times, and it has cost us.”
The Breakers look to reverse their recent trend when they hit the road Friday for a 3:15 p.m. league match against Calvary Chapel at Centennial Park in Santa Ana.
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CIF Weekly Rankings
Girls’ Soccer: Laguna Beach (No. 6, Division 5).
