Laguna continues winning ways West Coast United

The Laguna Beach Soccer Club boys’ under-14 Division team continued

its surge in the second half of Coast Soccer League play by downing

host West Coast United, 2-1.

The victory allowed Laguna to move one step closer toward living

up to its self-imposed goal of not losing a game during the second

half of league action.

In the previous meeting between the teams, Laguna and West Coast

United fought to a tie. But in the rematch, Laguna was able to jump

out to an early lead, then hold on for a hard-fought victory.

Laguna started the match strongly and controlled the match in all

areas, its defense looking in complete control behind the play of

Noah Michelon, Graham Harris, Jack Monroe and Yorel Porcile breaking

down West Coast scoring threats, and then playing out from the back

with control and patience.

Playmaker Bryce Healey was dictating the Laguna attack and came

close to scoring on several occasions with some long distance

efforts. Caine Fair continued to work off the ball to support the

excellent wing play of Michael Lewis and Tommy Hopper, although Caine

was on the receiving end of some brutal defending in return for his

hard work.

Alex Germano and Daniel Selevan were winning all the midfield

defensive battles.

The first half proved to be the most complete performance so far

for Laguna this season, Coach Andy Thomas said.

“Their skill and tactical superiority soon produced the deserved

result,” Thomas said. “We had created numerous, well-worked scoring

opportunities that were denied by good goalkeeping, and so it was

ironic that the first goal came from a speculative long shot from

just inside the half way line.”

Graham Harris, Laguna’s team captain, provided that pivotal goal.

Striking the ball first time as it rolled out to him, the ball

bounced just in front of the West Coast keeper, and misjudging it,

the ball bounced over the keeper and into the net.

Harris dedicated the goal to his very father, Ron, who celebrated

his birthday that day.

Soon after Harris’ goal, Laguna scored again, thanks to great work

down the left side, with Hopper working well with Fair to get the

ball into the box.

The ball reached the foot of substitute Max Radach, who selflessly

drove a low ball into the box that was met with a one touch shot by

Germano, leaving the keeper with no chance.

The goal gave Laguna a 2-0 halftime advantage.

The only goal Laguna gave up in the second half came off a

indirect free kick.

However, Alex Shusko continued to pressure the West Coast

backfield and the fresh legs of Phil LeBon and Andrew Zapas kept

Laguna in the game and helped seal the victory.

In other club soccer action:

Boys’ under-11 Division

Stampede 2, Laguna 1

Laguna gave the undefeated Stampede all they could handle in a

tough match at Hill Elementary School in Westminster.

In the previous meeting between the two clubs, the Stampede posted

a 3-1 victory.

Laguna began the first half of play with strong runs at the

Stampede goal. Consecutive shots by forwards Christian Ochoa and

Michael Kimball and midfielder Paolo Noppenberger were blocked at the

net, and the Stampede CFC answered each Laguna challenge with a

strong counter attack and blasted several shots of their own.

Austin Paxson, playing with skillful instinct at keeper, showed

that he was up for the challenge by denying the Stampede a goal

during their shooting barrage.

However, minutes later, Stampede forward Gavin Peromo found

himself un-marked in front of the Laguna box , received a short pass

and scored on a one-touch volley.

Undaunted, Laguna showed what it is made of by bouncing back with

a goal of its own moments later.

The goal resulted from a pass deep in Laguna territory from

Noppenberger, who found Ochoa one-on-one with a Stampede defender.

With his back to the Stampede goal, Ochoa received the ball, then

spun away from his defender and sent a blast past a stunned keeper,

tying the score at 1-1.

Paxson came up with a goal-stopping play in the second half and

Laguna had several shots on goal, but could not score again.

The Stampede broke the tie moments before the end of regulation,

when midfielder Turner Clouse took a loose ball in front of the

Laguna and sent an easy shot in the net.

When Laguna returns to action this weekend, it will do so with

standout forward Marc Hughes, who is scheduled to return to the team

after having suffered a broken leg and missing all previous games.