Breakers earn ‘monumental win’

The Laguna Beach girls’ soccer team ended its winter break on a rare high, hoping that the feat will lead to big things during play in the Orange Coast League.

Laguna began league play Thursday with a road match against Calvary Chapel at Orange Coast College. The score wasn’t available at press time.

The Breaker return to the field for a league clash at 6 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Costa Mesa at Guyer Field.

They did enter league action, however, feeling awfully good.

In what Coach Bill Rolfing said was a “monumental win” for the program, Laguna rolled past visiting Corona del Mar, 4-1, in nonleague play on Jan. 4.

Rolfing said that Laguna defeated the Sea Kings for just the third time in the past 25 years, and for just the third time in the 27-game history of the series.

Corona del Mar hadn’t lost in five previous outings (4-0-1) leading up to the Laguna match.

The Breakers’ aggressive team-style play and control of the midfield was too much for the Sea Kings, he said.

Laguna scored first, getting a 15-yard shot from sophomore Alex Degarmo at the 20 minute mark. Courtney Capobianco set up the goal with a back pass to Degarmo, who waited for the ball and then slotted it off the inside post.

A few minutes later, Capobianco scored on a 10-yard bullet shot from the left side that got past an outstretched Corona del Mar goalie for a 2-0 lead.

Before the half was out, the Sea Kings scored from close range to narrow their deficit to 2-1.

Laguna regained momentum early in the second half and pushed the lead to 3-1 15 minutes into the half when Ali Terwilliger set up a sprinting Jackie Csira for score.

Terwilliger, with the ball at her feet, slid a through ball to Csira and Csira, back in action after a slight knee injury, dribbled the ball straight at the goal and slipped the ball into the net.

The Sea Kings fought back but couldn’t score again, denied by the Laguna defensive efforts of Claire Rubel, Holden Penney, Kelsey Peterson and Jessee Good Man. Junior keeper Lura Hills easily handled the four shots on goal by the Sea Kings, once coming on a nice catch just under the crossbar.

The midfield players of Degarmo, Capobianco, Madeline Arterburn and Laura Renault, gave Corona del Mar “little room” to make plays, Rolfing said.

Csira and Nikki Clark, playing up top, with Terwilliger and Shelby Serra coming off the bench, put consistent pressure on the Sea Kings’ defense.

Laguna iced the victory when Penney, at full speed, took the ball deep into the defense, slipped a perfect touch pass to a sprinting Renault who then sent a one-touch shot from 25-yards that just cleared under the bar and past the Sea Kings keeper.

Laguna headed into league play with an 8-5-3 record.

Last year, the Breakers finished in third-place in the league race.

“Our preseason has been successful in that we won the matches we planned to and had three upper-level results that has given us the confidence to enter league,” Rolfing said. “Our 1-1 tie at Pacifica was a turning point for us and that result gave us momentum. Our 3-0 victory over Irvine and the recent 4-1 victory over Corona Del Mar has demonstrated our capability in big games. The Palm Desert tournament was difficult as we were decimated by the flu and a couple key injuries. The 2-2 record in Palm Desert was, however, an excellent opportunity to refine our passing game and now it is a matter of stepping up for league competition.

“If we can perform at a level of intensity and awareness that we exhibited against CdM, then we should contend for the league title. Our goal is to take each game as if it means qualifying for CIF. The team’s passing-style of play has now been absorbed by the girls, so now it is a matter of stepping up the physical commitment in each game. If the girls play up to their capability, we will win league. It will be a team effort with tenacious defending and an all-out effort to control the midfield. It will be an exciting nine games for us.”

In alumni game action, the current varsity squad also took on then came away with a 2-1 victory over a team of alumni players. Capobianco scored Laguna’s first goal in the opening half, then assisted a second-half goal by Csira.

For the alumni team, Sara Appel scored off an assist from Sara Rolfing, daughter of the Laguna coach.