SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ SOCCER PLAYOFFS : SMALL SCHOOLS : Disputed Calls Help La Salle Defeat Orange Lutheran in Overtime

ORANGE —  La Salle of Pasadena scored a disputed goal halfway through the second overtime period to defeat Orange Lutheran, 1-0, in the semifinals of the Small School division boys’ soccer playoffs Tuesday at Orange Lutheran.

Senior sweeper Matt Pendroh took a pass directly in front of the Orange Lutheran goal and kicked it into the net. The score held up and Orange Lutheran (16-7-2) was eliminated from the playoffs. La Salle (14-4-3) will meet the winner of the L.A. Baptist-Harvard match for the small schools championship.

“The referee called offsides on the goal,” Orange Coach Del Montel said, “but it was waved off by the center official and they kicked the goal. I protested but (the official) said it was only by a few feet. That was their only shot on our goal (in the second overtime) and they were offsides.”

In the first half, Orange Lutheran was stung by a referee’s decision. Lee Back’s apparent goal 12 minutes into the first half was nullified by an offsides call. Later, an apparent goal was kicked out of the net by a La Salle player. “That ball was in the net, but the side official was out of position and didn’t see it,” Montel said.