Laguna makes playoff cut

Laguna Beach boys’ soccer team qualify for Division II postseason -- with new haircuts to boot. The Laguna Beach High boys’ soccer program will make its debut in the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs today when the Breakers host neighboring Laguna Hills.

The first-round match begins at 3 p.m. at Guyer Field.

Laguna is returning to the playoffs following a year’s absence. In 2003, the Breakers dropped a first-round match in Division III.

The school previously has won three Southern Section titles, most recently, the Division V title in 2002. But playing in the Division II postseason is a first for the Breakers, Coach Giovanni Vlahos said.

Laguna enters the playoffs with a 13-4-3 record, and is designated the No. 2 team from the Pacific Coast League.

The Breakers shared the PCL title with Tesoro, but the Titans enter the playoffs as the league’s No. 1 seed, due to their defeating Laguna in both league meetings this year.

“At the beginning of the season we set the playoffs as our goal,” Vlahos said. “But not only that, winning the whole thing. They also made a promise that if they made it, they would all cut their hair as a sign of unity, a brotherhood, if you will. And they did.

“It’s amazing when 18 players stand by their word to do something.”

Not only that, but Vlahos set an example as he joined his team: he went under the clippers and now sports the “buzz” look.

Vlahos and the Breakers know little about their opponent, Laguna Hills.

The Hawks, who finished second in the Sea View League, are led in scoring by Mike Lemus and Eduardo Pantoja, and have a sturdy goalkeeper in Tony Roedel.

Laguna, meanwhile, is led offensively by senior striker Derek LeBon, who has posted 13 goals, and senior midfielder Brenden Hexberg with eight assists.

Junior keeper Erik Haug has 108 saves to his credit this year.

The teams do have a common opponent this year in Northwood. Laguna Hills lost in nonleague play to the Timberwolves, and Laguna defeated Northwood in Pacific Coast League play.

“I really don’t know too much about Laguna Hills,” Vlahos said. “They come from a very good league but they lost, 3-0, to Northwood this year, and we beat them. We should gain some confidence from that.”

A victory today would send Laguna into a second-round game Tuesday (3 p.m.) against the winner of today’s first-round matchup between Bay League champion West Torrance, the division’s No. 2 seed, and Villa Park, the No. 3 team out of the Century League.

Channel League champion Santa Barbara is the No. 1 seed in the division.20060217iqsnx1knDON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna’s Michael Tachovsky, left, takes the ball away from a St. Margaret’s opponent and moves upfield. The team now sports cropped haircuts.