Laguna falls in finale

Girls’ soccer team drops 4-0 match to Tesoro in final game of the season.The play of his girls’ soccer team in the second half of Wednesday’s match against Tesoro left a lasting impression on Laguna Beach High coach Bill Rolfing.

Despite losing, 4-0, to the visiting Titans, the second-ranked team in CIF-Southern Section Division II, Rolfing was pleased with the way his team battled in the second half of their season-ending match.

“We played a lot better in that second half, and the girls really put a lot of heart and effort into their final half of the season,” he said. “I was proud of them. That performance is something to build on for the future.”

Laguna gave up two goals in each half to the Titans in a match where the Breakers celebrated Senior Night at Guyer Field.

Rolfing, whose squad finished 2-10 in league and 8-15-1 overall, played his entire roster.

“Everybody played and everybody played hard,” he said. “We had an early chance to score but couldn’t convert.

“Tesoro is a really good team, and they made some great shots.”

Laguna honored seniors Jessica Heitel, Anna Hopper, Jamie Hancock, twins Ashlee and Alicia Rose and Lauren Unger during pregame festivities.

Heitel, Hopper and Hancock served as tri-captains during the season.

Heitel, who injured her knee in Monday’s 2-0 loss to Corona del Mar, played a few minutes Wednesday before leaving the contest.

Unger, whom Rolfing said broke her neck during the summer, didn’t play this year but came out to support her teammates throughout the season.

“They are a great group of seniors, and I couldn’t ask for a better trio of captains,” Rolfing said. “They are smart girls who are going off to college, and they have good leadership qualities.

Against Corona del Mar, the host Sea Kings scored a 2-0 victory to clinch a CIF playoff berth.

Rolfing also played everybody in that match.

“We had a fun year,” he said. “I think we realized early on in the preseason that we were a good soccer team. We won some games against teams that are going to CIF.

“It was the journey that mattered this season, and they had fun.”