Laguna Beach earns postseason berth

The Laguna Beach High boys’ soccer team is heading to next week’s CIF playoffs.

The Breakers will be making a second straight postseason trip, thanks to wrapping up second place in the Orange Coast League standings Wednesday by posting a 1-0 win against visiting Calvary Chapel at Guyer Field.

They are one of the few teams in Laguna boys’ soccer history to make consecutive trips to the playoffs.

Right-back Sheldon Eaton scored the match’s lone goal off an assist from Marshall Thomas in the second half. Laguna co-captain Erik Haug turned back a determined Eagles offense and recorded five saves, two coming on “amazing saves” on balls that were headed toward the top-right of the goal, Laguna Coach Patrick Coyne said.

Brennan Healey and Michael Tachovsky played strong games at center-defense, Coyne said.

Two seniors, Stephen Anderson and Nick Nestre, who started out as subs at the start of the season, both had “amazing games” against Calvary Chapel, Coyne said.

All 21 Breakers played in the match.

“It’s a great place to be,” Coyne said of his team’s finish to the regular season. “We beat a top-10 team in Estancia. Making CIF was our big goal. Now, we want to go as far as we can.

“Main thing for me is we got two great wins and spirits are high. We’re looking forward to CIF.”

The CIF pairings will be announced Monday. First-round action begins Wednesday.

On Monday, Laguna came out on top of another down-to-the-wire league match, this one a 1-0 shutout of visiting Estancia. The Breakers won the match on a late second-half Jonathan Martinez goal off a corner kick by Tachovsky.

Haug had another strong game in net, this time posting the shutout behind six saves.

Brennan Healey led the Laguna defense.

The Breakers had begun the previous week’s action by playing host Costa Mesa to a 1-1 tie. Eaton scored for Laguna and Haug finished with four saves.

In girls’ soccer

A CIF playoff berth awaited the winner of Thursday’s rubber match between Orange Coast League rivals Laguna Beach and Calvary Chapel.

Results from the match weren’t available at press time.

“We control our own destiny going into the match and a win should rightly be the only way to achieve our goal of post-season play,” Rolfing said.

Laguna played Estancia on Tuesday to a 1-1 draw, a result that left the Breakers tied for second place with Calvary in the league standings and forced a one-game playoff to determine the league’s second playoff entry.

Laguna scored first on a big play down the left wing, as Jackie Csira sent a long shot into the far corner of the Eagles’ net.

Foggy conditions took over the playing field in the second half.

Previously, Laguna played Costa Mesa tough but dropped a 2-1 decision to the Mustangs. Courtney Capobianco scored on a penalty kick to draw Laguna within 2-1 and although the Breakers continued to hold the upper hand in the later stages of the match, they couldn’t post the equalizing goal.

Goalie Lauren Caris had seven saves.

Two weeks ago, Laguna handed league champion Costa Mesa its only loss.

In other soccer news

Laguna Beach High boys’ soccer will hold a camp for youth ages 8 to 14 from 9 a.m. to noon beginning Feb. 20 through Feb. 23. The camp will be run at the high school football/soccer stadium. Walk-up participants are welcome.

For information, call Coyne at (949) 350-5239.