High School Soccer: Breakers boys’ and girls’ squads face road tests in CIF openers
After playing through an Orange Coast League season that saw the Laguna Beach boys’ and girls’ soccer teams contend for a league championship, both take the next step this week when they enter the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
The Laguna girls’ team, the No. 3 team from the OCL, started Division 5 postseason play Thursday at Golden West League runner-up Segerstrom. The score wasn’t available at press time.
The winner of that match advances to a second-round game Tuesday to face the winner of another first-round game played Thursday between No. 2-seed Hemet (Mountain Pass League champ) and Cathedral City (Desert Valley League No. 4).
The division quarterfinals are Thursday.
Laguna headed into the postseason with a 9-5-6 overall record. The Breakers finished one point behind co-OCL champs Estancia and Calvary Chapel in the standings. Estancia and Calvary Chapel ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the final regular season Division 5 poll.
The Laguna program, which has won two of the last four OCL titles, is in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
“We definitely have a competitive pairing with Segerstrom,” Laguna Coach Bill Rolfing said. “We will have to be on top of our game in all departments and make adjustments for some key injuries. However, our confidence is high with no losses in the last six outings and maintaining a CIF ranking.”
In their final OCL game of the regular season, the Breakers and Calvary Chapel fought to a scoreless draw on Feb. 11.
During its six-match unbeaten streak to end the regular season, Laguna outscored the opposition, 9-1.
The Laguna boys’ team, runner-up to the OCL title, begins Division 4 postseason play at 5 p.m. Friday at La Mirada. The Breakers take a 9-7-4 record into their meeting with the Matadores (12-9-1), who tied for the Suburban League title and are the league’s designated No. 2 team for the playoffs.
Laguna is in the Southern Section playoffs for a fourth straight year.
“We are obviously very excited to have made the playoffs again, especially with all the injuries and illness we’ve had throughout the season,” Laguna Coach Dan Richards said. “It’s been a great learning experience for all our young players and a real testament to the team of how far they have come in such a short space of time.
“The playoffs are always tough and you never know quite what to expect. Having an away game to start with and going to a school we have never played before, just makes it that much more interesting.”
In its final game of the OCL and regular seasons, Laguna shut down Calvary Chapel, 1-0. Willy Wheeler scored the winning goal.
“A large part of our success during the league season was based on defensive discipline and organization throughout the squad, and we know that is going to be important again as we approach Friday’s game,” Richards said. “We don’t know too much about La Mirada’s program, however, they must have some real quality to have finished joint top of their league and I’m sure will be ready to play in front of their home supporters.”
The winner of the Laguna-La Mirada game could face top-seed Hart in a second-round game Wednesday.
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca