Laguna Beach plays spoiler role
Having already secured another trip to the CIF Southern Section playoffs, the Laguna Beach High girls’ soccer team capped its Orange Coast League season Wednesday at Guyer Field.
The Breakers, the 10th-ranked team in Division 5, played seventh-ranked Calvary Chapel to a 1-1 tie on Senior Night. Sophomore midfielder Haylee Jarvis scored on a shot to the upper-corner of the goal from 30 yards out to give the Breakers a 1-0 lead in the second half. The Eagles scored late to tie the score.
With the draw, Laguna denied Calvary Chapel the league title which went to Estancia (23 points). Calvary Chapel finished in second place, and the Breakers finished third.
Laguna Coach Bill Rolfing called the league and regular-season finale a “satisfying finish” for his squad which he will take into the postseason playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.
“Great energy was displayed Wednesday night,” he said. “Senior Night provided extra celebration.”
In a league contest Monday at Estancia, the Breakers fell to the Eagles, 2-1. Senior midfielder Alyssa Pellow scored off a corner taken by Jarvis.
The Breakers had nailed down a CIF playoff berth Feb. 4 when they scored a 4-0 shutout win at Saddleback.
Laguna finished league play 6-2-2, and take an overall record of 11-5-4 into the postseason. The CIF-SS girls’ soccer playoff pairings will be released Monday. Division wild-card games are Wednesday (when needed) and first-round games are Thursday.
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Boys’ Soccer
The Breakers went to Estancia Tuesday for an Orange Coast League game and lost to the Eagles, 3-0.
The loss sent the Breakers to 0-6-3 in league and 2-7-7 overall.
“The start of this game was very disappointing and unacceptable by the boys,” Laguna Coach Dan Richards said. “We didn’t come with the right attitude and Estancia punished us straight away. We were two goals behind within the first 10 minutes and down by three at the break. The second half was a lot better but far too little too late.
“We knew Estancia would be motivated to play and the match was basically over before it even started, unfortunately. Hopefully, the boys learn from this game, and the season as a whole. It’s really shown the importance of being mentally strong, focused at all times and giving that little extra when others don’t.”
In a previous league match Feb. 5, the Breakers and host Saddleback battled to a 2-2 tie. Bobby Briggs scored on a header and Charlie Warner converted a penalty kick, and Logan Eastman got an assist on Briggs’ goal.
The Breakers overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit and a 2-1 hole in the second half to earn the tie.
“I was very happy at how the boys approached this game and got off to a good start,” Richards said. “We had a lot of the ball early on and created some good chances. Unfortunately, as with a lot of games this season, we didn’t make the most of these chances and found ourselves a goal down right before half time. The second half was very scrappy and neither team really got a hold of the game.”
“Considering the season the lads have had, it was nice to see them come back twice in a game on the road and showed some spirit and fight that has been lacking in other matches.”
The Breakers closed out their season Thursday with a league game against Calvary Chapel. The score wasn’t available at press time.
“It’s always disappointing when you don’t make playoffs or get the desired results, especially as the program has been very strong over the last few years,” said Richards whose program had reached postseason play the previous four years. “It’s a shame for our seniors that their last year has ended this way, but it shouldn’t take away from all the positives they have brought to Laguna Beach High soccer over their time at the school.”
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CIF Weekly Rankings
Girls’ Soccer: No. 10, Division 5.
