Laguna drops tight game to Corona del Mar

Mike Sciacca

Playing its final game of the season, on its home field and against

its chief rival, the Laguna Beach High boys’ soccer team took Corona

del Mar to the wire before dropping a 1-0 match in a Pacific Coast

League finale for both teams.

“I’m happy with the way the boys responded to the final game,

although I’m just disappointed that we didn’t make the playoffs,”

said Giovanni Vlahos, who completed his first year as Breakers head

coach. “I’m especially disappointed for my graduating seniors,

because they deserved that shot in their final year.”

Seniors playing their final game at Guyer Field were JP Olson,

Clark Olson, Sam Ferguson, Sam Luna, Raul Albarran and Adam Turbi.

Laguna bolted out to a hot start to the 2004-05 season, posting a

6-1-1 record by winter break.

The Breakers, however, struggled in league play, and went on to

post an overall record of 7-8-3 record.

“This was a good squad that found its stride before the Christmas

holiday,” Vlahos said. “I think that too much success made them not

work as hard after the holiday season, and it came back to bite us in

the rear. Overall, we finished 7-8-3, which was more than a lot of

people expected but in all honesty, I know this group could have been

a lot better, as far as record goes.

“This team has a lot of talent. Maybe it was my fault that they

didn’t put it together after the break. Some games you could see the

brilliance and then in other games, it was like somebody switched my

boys with a group that looked like them, but wasn’t them.”

Despite not qualifying for the playoffs, Vlahos said he enjoyed

his first year of coaching at the school.

“Overall, I’m somewhat pleased with my first year,” he said. “I

learned a lot and I know what I’ll need to re-tool this varsity squad

so we can compete better next year,” he said. “There will be a lot of

changes to the squad next year, that, I can guarantee you.”