Laguna soccer team stuns Slammers

Playing inspired ball, the Laguna Beach Soccer Club boys’ Under-10

team defeated perennial Orange County power, the Newport Beach

Slammers, 3-2, in a match played at Aliso Viejo.

Laguna was undaunted by an early 1-0 deficit against the Slammers

and scored three consecutive goals to take command at 3-1.

After forward Conner Cruse scored to give Newport a 1-0 lead,

Laguna answered with consecutive goals by forward Michael Kimball.

Kimball’s goals were set up by assists from Marc Hughes and Zack

Lebon as Laguna took a 2-1 lead at the half.

They continued their surge in the second half and Miguel Jaimes,

taking note of that the Newport keeper had come out of goal, lofted

an aerial shot into the back of the Slammers’ net to make it a 3-1

game.

Newport tried a desperate comeback attempt late in the match but

the defensive play of Luke Barker, Christian Menes and Paolo

Noppenberger, helped keep the Slammers off the scoreboard until just

before time expired.

Brian Vail, Mathew Finkelstein, Jimmy Kang and Derek Marolf

controlled the midfield for Laguna.

Coach Andy Thomas made several changes in his starting lineup to

combat the offensive prowess of Newport. Forward Austin Paxson was

moved to keeper and Noppenberger, who normally plays the forward

position, was moved to sweeper.

The Slammers continually moved into Laguna territory early in the

match but Paxson came up with several blocks in goal.