Laguna Beach High opens league with a shutout win

Girls’ soccer has little trouble with Beckman, posting a 2-0 victory.The Laguna Beach High girls’ soccer team opened its Pacific Coast League schedule Wednesday on a winning note by shutting down visiting Beckman, 2-0.

The Breakers took control at Guyer Field by sprinting to a 2-0 halftime lead.

Alicia Rose scored off an assist by Anna Hopper for Laguna’s first score, and Jessica Heitel nailed an unassisted goal.

The Breakers resume league play Monday when they travel to Irvine to battle the Northwood Timberwolves.

Prior to opening league competition Wednesday, Laguna Beach had completed a busy nonleague schedule by playing eight games during a period of just nine days.

During nonleague play, the Breakers posted a 6-5-1 record, which included amassing 30 goals over a 12-game stretch.

Anna Hopper led the scoring with eight goals, followed by Courtney Capobianco, Angela Lozano, Sarah Rolfing and Jackie Csira.

“The girls are working the ball well on the wings and finishing from quick centering passes,” said second-year Laguna coach, Bill Rolfing.

Each of Laguna’s five losses came by one-goal margins.

“We have worked very hard this year on denying ball possession for our opponents,” Rolfing said. “The first line of defense is crucial. Senior backs Jessica Heitel and Jamie Hancock have contributed greatly in keeping the defense working in concert.”

Before the start of the new year, Laguna participated in the three-day, 16-team Palm Desert Tournament.

The Breakers opened the tournament with a 4-3 victory over La Quinta of La Quinta, the tournament’s No. 1 seed. Laguna, however, dropped its next match in overtime penalty kicks, 4-3, to eventual champion Beverly Hills. Laguna also dropped a 3-2 match to Beaumont but finished the tournament with a 7-0 rout of Palm Desert’s B team.

At the local JSerra Tournament, Laguna posted strong victories over Saddleback Valley (2-0) and Sacred Heart (6-0) but lost a tough 1-0 overtime match to eventual tournament champion Sage Hill, as well as a 2-1 match to host Serra, to finish in third place.

“Both the JSerra and Palm Desert Tournaments were exciting for our young team,” Rolfing said. “The girls were able to fine-tune their passing game, score goals and enjoy bonding off the field.