Laguna Beach Soccer Club earns split

The Laguna Beach Soccer Club boys’ under-11 team began its 2004 Coast

Soccer League season last weekend by splitting its first two matches.

In its season opener, Laguna, which returned 11 of its 13 players

from last year, downed the OCU Vipers, 6-1, at Moulton Meadows.

Laguna lost a tough match to host Tustin Premier, 1-0.

In the 6-1 win, midfielder Brian Vail scored a hat trick in the

first half and Austin Paxson scored a fourth goal as Laguna opened up

a 4-0 halftime lead.

Fine passing by Paxson, Michael Kimball, Miguel Jaimes, Jimmy Kang

and Thomas Munayyer assisted Vail in accomplishing the early hat

trick.

Laguna’s defensive team of Ethan Cochran, Zack Lebon, Luke Barker,

Mathew Lunn and Logan Warren prevented the Vipers from playing

significant time in the Laguna half of the field.

The second half began with the Vipers getting a goal from forward

Yuri Silva from just outside the 18 yard box, his blast finding the

upper corner of the right post and just out of reach for Laguna

keeper Christian Ochoa.

Laguna came right back with a goal from midfielder Paolo

Noppenberger, who broke away from his defender at mid-field and made

a run at goal. The OUC keeper came out to meet him and once

committed, Paolo broke to the side and got behind the keeper and

gently placed it into the net.

Later in the match, Ochoa put the game out of reach with a goal

shot from about 15-yards out.

Laguna defender Logan Warren scored what appeared to be his first

goal in three seasons on a dazzling shot from just inside the

midfield line, but it was nullified by an offsides call.

In its 1-0 loss to Tustin Premier, Laguna played without two of

its starting forwards and without the use of substitutes in the first

half.

Ochoa and Paxson once again took turns at keeper for LBSC and both

contributed huge saves during the course of the game.