Laguna looking for win

It’s just two games into the 2008 Orange Coast League girls’ soccer season, but Laguna Beach Coach Bill Rolfing already knows that his Breakers will be tested throughout the remainder of the league race.

He also feels that the title is up for grabs, even after the Breakers dropped their league opener, 2-1, to Calvary Chapel, before rebounding Tuesday to play Costa Mesa to a 2-2 tie.

Laguna opened league play on Jan. 10 at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, and dropped a 2-1 decision to host Calvary Chapel. The Breakers, Rolfing said, “battled hard enough and created enough scoring opportunities” to win the match, yet couldn’t pull out the win.

Laguna took 14 shots on goal in the first half yet could convert only one of those shots into a score. Junior Maddy Arterburn got the goal, scoring from five yards out after a “superb” centering cross from left winger Nikki Clark, Rolfing said.

The goal came just before the half ended and provided some relief for the Breakers, who previously had three shots come off the frame of the Calvary Chapel goal and had several shot attempts turned away by the Eagles’ goalie Amy Ramirez, who finished a strong performance with 12 saves.

In an evenly played second half, Calvary Chapel scored the go-ahead goal on a free kick that just did elude Laguna goalie Lura Hills. The final 15 minutes saw Laguna pepper the Eagles goal with numerous shots, but it was unable to convert. The Breakers did score an apparent goal, but it was waved off by the referee who said Ramirez had possession of the ball, Rolfing said.

The Laguna attack also was frustrated when a breakaway from a Calvary Chapel pass back resulted in a off-sides call.

Overall, eight different Breakers amassed a total of 21 shot attempts on the Eagles goal.

Rolfing noted the play of Holden Penney, Claire Rubel, sophomore Kelsey Peterson and Laura Renault at midfield and on defense, and the attacking pressure of Arterburn, Clark, Jackie Csira and Brianna Lacy kept on the Calvary Chapel defense.

Tuesday at Guyer Field, an experienced Costa Mesa team, which lost to Laguna last year, its only league loss in the past five years, had to settle for a 2-2 tie with the host Breakers.

Last year’s league champions started the match “fast and aggressive,” Rolfing said, and ended it much the same way. The Mustangs scored the first goal at the five-minute mark of the first half. Laguna responded with some physical play of its own and tied the score at the 15-minute mark.

Teamwork led to the Breakers goal, which was set up by a crossing delivery from Csira on the left side to Clark who was positioned on the penalty spot. Clark then dropped a short pass to Lacy, who sent a sharp shot into the lower right corner of the goal.

In a tense, second-half battle, Laguna went into the lead in the 48th minute when Clark found herself wide open on the left side following a deflected Costa Mesa clearance.

She then blasted a shot into the far-upper corner of the net to give the Breakers a 2-1 lead.

Costa Mesa scored off a free kick opportunity from 20 yards out 15 minutes later to tie the score.

The final 15 minutes of the match saw the Mustangs swarm the Laguna side of the field but the play of sophomores Jessee Good Man on defense and Christina Gargilcic at midfield, helped assist the Laguna veterans in holding off the late charge.

The Mustangs outshot the Breakers, 9-6.

Laguna begins the second round of league play at 4 p.m. Tuesday with a home match against Calvary Chapel. The Breakers will also play a 3 p.m. league match Thursday at Costa Mesa.