Laguna boy’s U-10 team wins title

Michael Sciacca

The boys’ under-10 Division team recorded a first in the history of

the Laguna Beach Soccer Club by winning its league championship.

Against San Juan United, Laguna overcame a 1-0 deficit to claim a

2-1 victory and long with it, the league title.

San Juan United, which finished in second-place, took a 1-0 lead

before Laguna’s tenacious duo of Joseph Rousseau and Matthew

Finkelstein went to work.

Rousseau dribbled past several opponents before looking up and

delivering a pinpoint pass to Finkelstein, who drilled the ball into

the net for the tying goal.

The teams were tied 1-1 at the half but in second half action,

Finkelstein returned the favor to Rousseau.

He assisted Rousseau’s go-ahead goal, which turned out to be the

game-winner in a 2-1 score.

Rousseau has been accustomed to scoring game-winning goals during

the season.

“Even though we scored a lot of goals, it’s defense that wins

championships,” said Andy Thomas, the club’s director of coaching.

“It takes a team effort to win a championship, and a lot of hard

work.

“These boys have been training and practicing since last February,

as well as putting in four weeks of three-hour days during our summer

training camps. The dedication of the parents, players, and the

outstanding coaching of Tony Peiffer has obviously paid off. This is

a fantastic achievement for the club.”

The Laguna Beach Soccer Club boys’ under-10 squad is made up of

Rousseau, Finkelstein, Alec Williams, Jovani Reyes, Joaquin Moeller,

Jake Rogers, Griffin Fair, Sean Birkitt, Reece Barton, Zack

Finkelstein, Jay Williams, Adam Mejia, Coach Peiffer and team manager

Monica Finkelstein.

“Laguna Beach Soccer Club draws from the smallest soccer playing

community in Southern California,” Thomas said. “What these boys have

achieved is simply magnificent. At last people will acknowledge the

Laguna Beach Soccer Club as one that’s as good as any out there. I am

extremely proud of my players.”

In club boys’ Under-14 action:

Laguna 4, Rancho Santa Margarita 0

Continuing its quest to achieve its goal of running the table in

the second half of the league season, Laguna blanked Rancho Santa

Margarita.

It took Laguna 20 minutes to adjust to the hard playing surface

and begin to create scoring opportunities.

Tommy Hopper went on a run down the left side and dribbled past

two defenders before looking up to spot oncoming Alex Germano, who

arrived on the scene at full speed.

Hooper placed a prefect cross to Germano, who volleyed the ball

into the net.

Hooper later displayed speed and control in racing past the

defense to roll the ball past the Rancho Santa Margarita keeper for a

2-0 lead.

In the second half, Bryce Healey floated a free kick to the far

post and later scored following a nice drive into the far post.

Keeper Noah Barker recorded another shutout for Laguna.

Pacific South Warriors 2, Laguna 1

Laguna’s bid for an unbeaten second-half of the season was foiled

by the Warriors, who scored a late goal to pull out the win.

The Warriors had already clinched the league championship prior to

meeting Laguna, which had risen from seventh- to third-place with its

second half win streak.

Laguna trailed, 1-0, before Max Radach came on and made an

immediate impact.

Receiving the ball with his back to goal, Radach turned his

defender, and placed the ball into the bottom corner for the

equalizer.

A back-and-forth struggle ensued between the two teams before the

Warriors were able to net the winning goal in the closing minutes of

regulation.

“The boys were clearly heartbroken having come so close to

achieving their goal, and the disappointment was written all over

their faces, but I think that what they achieved was remarkable,”

Thomas said. “They moved from being next to last in the standings to

finishing in third-place outright in a very tough league and gave it

their all along the way. That’s success.”

The Laguna Soccer Club boys’ Under-14 squad is made up of Hooper,

Germano, Barker, Healey, Radach, Noah Michelon, Graham Harris, Jack

Monroe, Yorel Porcile, Michael Lewis, Daniel Selivan, Caine Fair,

Andrew Zapas, Alex Shusko, Phil LeBon, Jasper Bower, Coach Thomas and

Manager Mark Michelon.