Boys’ soccer just misses wildcard slot

Win, tie and loss make for a balanced diet for under-12 club team.The Laguna Beach Soccer Club’s under-12 boys’ team played three games last weekend and posted a record of 1-1-1.

Laguna just missed out on earning a postseason wildcard berth. The team next will compete in January at the Orange Coast United tournament.

Laguna 0, Pateadores 0

The second meeting of the season between the two teams, which also served as the final regular season game for both squads, ended in a tie at Oaks Polo Field in San Juan Capistrano.

Nevada Cruz Azul 1, Laguna 0

In its first game of the second-round of League Cup play, which drew more than 200 teams in the Coast Soccer League, Laguna, a Bronze division team, held its own against Cruz Azul, the first-place team in the Silver North division, at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex.

The game marked the furthest a Laguna team had advanced in the tournament.

Cruz Azul midfielder Eddie Nieves scored the lone goal of the game.

Laguna attempted to tie the score in the second half, but midfielder Brian Vail’s chip shot sailed just outside the far post.

Laguna midfielders Ethan Cochran, Rex Kelly and Christian Ochoa didn’t allow Cruz Azul another goal, and the locals appeared to tie the game when Brice Manning scored an apparent goal off a pass from Cochran.

But the head referee waved off the goal, ruling Laguna offsides on the play.

Laguna 4, Pacific Coast 2

In its second match of the day at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex, Laguna doubled the score on Pacific Coast of the Silver North division.

Pacific Coast struck first, taking a 10 lead on a penalty kick. Laguna evened the score at 1-1 when midfielder Luke Barker received a pass from Marc Hughes at the top of the 18-yard box and sent a hook shot into the far post of the goal. Not only did the goal prove to be the equalizer, but it was the first scored in Barker’s three years with the team.

Pacific Coast took a 2-1 halftime lead on a goal by forward Michael Padilla.

Following a halftime pep talk by coach Andy Thomas, Laguna came out firing in the second half.

They received a gift goal to tie the score at 2-2, as a Pacific Coast player knocked the ball into his own goal. Laguna forward Brice Manning showed why he is considered one of the top players in the league, posting two solid goals in quick succession to give his team a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Manning’s goals came off well-placed crosses by Marc Hughes and Christian Ochoa.