Breakers launch league season

The Laguna Beach High boys’ soccer team will come off a two-week break today when it makes its Orange Coast League debut at Costa Mesa. Match time is 3 p.m.

Laguna has not played since battling Santa Fe to a 2-2 tie at the Marina Tournament.

“The boys are confident heading into league,” said Breakers Coach Patrick Coyne, whose squad is 6-3-3. “Our goal is to win league and get to CIF, and that goal begins with Costa Mesa. Everybody feels good at the start of the new year.”

Costa Mesa comes into today’s league opener with a 2-5-1 record. Laguna and Costa Mesa have a common opponent this year in Fountain Valley. The Breakers blanked the Barons, 1-0, on Dec. 15, and the Mustangs fell to the Barons, 2-1, in the Nov. 27 season opener for both teams.

Laguna boasts one of the county’s stingiest defenses, which features three all-league players in defenders Brennen Healey and Michael Tachosky and goalie Erik Haug. Coming into today’s match, the Breakers defense is yielding less than one goal per match.

“At the Marina Tournament over the holiday break, we started playing with more passion,” Coyne said. “If we can be more consistent on offense, we have a solid shot at a league championship and a CIF playoff berth.”

Following today’s match, Laguna will host Estancia at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

In girls’ soccer:

Laguna played a talented Pacifica team tough but fell to the Mariners, 4-2, in a nonleague match Jan. 4 at Guyer Field.

Jackie Csira scored both Laguna goals, getting one in each half. Assists went to Sara Appel and Holden Penney.

Lauren Caris had nine saves.

The Breakers, who opened Orange Coast League play Thursday at Costa Mesa, return to the playing field Tuesday at Estancia.

They will play each league foe three times through the end of the regular season, which concludes on Feb. 8.