Girls lose heartbreaker

Laguna Beach soccer team plays strong game but fails to overcome Calvary Chapel, falling 3-2 in Pacific Coast League game.In what coach Bill Rolfing called the “heartbreaker of heartbreakers,” the Laguna Beach High girls’ soccer team came up just short Wednesday.

A determined bunch of Breakers played a “great game through the midfield and into the attack all night,” Rolfings said, but lost to a bigger, faster Calvary Chapel squad, 3-2, in Pacific Coast League action at Guyer Field.

Laura Renault scored first from 20 yards out for Laguna, and teammate Avery Zoellner blasted in the second goal from 25 yards out just before the half.

“We played our best passing game of league, and, though disappointed, we have a great week to look forward to, with CdM and Tesoro,” Rolfing said.

He addressed his team with an encouraging message.

“We just played our best game in league,” he said. “Our passing, playmaking and team organization was at its strongest since our very successful preseason. Our game sense, anticipation and connections were in top form tonight, and we all know that the teamwork we displayed was awesome. Defense played very, very well.”

In boys’ soccer:

With the Pacific Coast League boys’ soccer race heading into its final stages and the title up for grabs, Wednesday turned out to be a pivotal day in the chase for the title.

Laguna wouldn’t let host Calvary Chapel loose from the get-go, and went on to a 3-0 victory over the Eagles.

That win, coupled with Corona del Mar’s surprising 3-2 win over Tesoro Wednesday, gave Laguna sole possession of first place in the league standings.

“We owned them from start to finish,” coach Giovanni Vlahos said of his team’s shutout victory. “We shredded their defense and midfield like Swiss cheese. It was an absolutely trouncing by my boys. If not for the terrific play of their goalkeeper, the final score would have been in the double digits.”

Calvary Chapel’s goalie, Matt Bacon, finished the game with an astounding 22 saves.

On the flip side, Laguna junior keeper Erik Haug had to fend off just two shots in goal in recording his fifth shutout of the season.

“It’s a true testament to how strong our defense is as well,” Vlahos said of the shutout. “They just want to keep those clean sheets, no matter how big our lead is at the time.”

Substitute striker and junior Anthony Awadalla opened up the scoring on a chip header that went over the Bacon’s head, a play set up by freshman Bryce Healey. It was the third goal of the season for Awadalla, and all three have come in Laguna’s past three games.

Laguna turned a 1-0 halftime lead into a 2-0 advantage when freshman Tommy Hopper took a pass from senior Michael Reyes for the next score. The two would team up on another scoring play later, as Hopper got his second goal after taking a heel pass from Reyes to make it 3-0.

The two goals gave Hopper four for the season, and the pair of assists gave Reyes five on the year.

Laguna’s next two matches will determine their league standing. The Breakers host Corona del Mar Monday, then finish the regular season at Tesoro Wednesday in a match that could determine the league champion.

Previously, Laguna and Northwood played to a 1-1 tie. The Breakers took the early lead when senior Brenden Hexberg drove a 22-yard direct kick into the net 25 minutes into the match.

Against University Monday, Laguna dominated play from start to finish but settled for a scoreless tie.

“We controlled the midfield, and my attackers were making brilliant runs all over the place,” Vlahos said. “We peppered their keeper with over 18 shots, but in the end, the only thing that matters is what the scoreboard says, and it was 0-0.”20060203iu1bz6ncDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna Beach’s Brennen Healey attempts to head the ball over University defenders and toward the goal Monday evening. The hard-fought game ended in a 0-0 draw. 20060203iu1bzwncDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna Beach’s Brennen Healey attempts to head the ball over University defenders and toward the goal Monday evening. The hard-fought game ended in a 0-0 draw.