Breaker girls drop finale

Mike Sciacca

The 2004-05 season came to an end Tuesday night for the Laguna Beach

High girls’ soccer team, which dropped a 3-0 Pacific Coast League

match to visiting Corona del Mar at Guyer Field.

“The game was emotional for our players in terms of our graduating

seniors, and everyone’s knowledge that we had just completed a

rebuilding year,” Laguna coach Bill Rolfing said. “However, our

emotions were not negative, but felt in a positive manner and that

was exhibited on the field by playing one of our better matches of

the year.”

Laguna battled the Sea Kings tough and trailed just 1-0 at the

half.

Rolfing, who completed his first year as head coach, was able to

play his entire roster in the match, which included five senior

players: Courtney Hamchuk, Laura Yale, Ana Velasquez, Keara Ross and

Emily Rolfing, the coach’s daughter.

Hamchuk and Emily Rolfing are five year club players who will move

on to play at the collegiate level next year, Bill Rolfing said.

“They were the backbone of our team and I will miss not having

their talent next year,’ Rolfing said of Hamchuk and his daughter.

“Laura, Ana and Keara were all starting varsity players for my squad

and contributed greatly over the years to Laguna girls’ soccer.

“This year, our goal was to improve with each game and always give

100% in support of the team effort. We accomplished that goal and I’m

extremely proud of each and every girl.”

During the course of the season, Laguna went up against

competition that either was ranked in CIF or had reached the playoffs

in 2004.

The Breakers also entered the 2004-05 season having graduated

eight of 11 starters last June.

Rolfing said that this year, the Laguna program fielded

approximately 30% club players that composed its frosh-soph, junior

varsity and varsity teams, compared to the competition, which

averaged 90 to 100% of their programs being made up of club players.

“Adjustments are immediately being instituted. including a

year-round Laguna Beach High girls’ soccer program,” he said. “That

includes weight and speed training. We also are encouraging girls to

seek club level teams to play for.

“It is a reality of the times and the girls that have committed to

a high level of soccer at Laguna Beach High deserve all that the

coaching staff can offer. The future is exciting and this was proven

this year by our very successful frosh-soph team, who claimed a 2-0

victory over CdM on Tuesday. The JV finished with a 2-1 loss, but

also had a terrific and competitive season with the new young talent

in the school.”

In boys’ soccer action, Laguna showed its moxie by battling back

from a two-goal deficit against host University to forge a 3-3

Pacific Coast League tie.

The Trojans went up 2-0 by the half, but the Breakers came back

with three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead.

“We performed great against University,” Laguna coach Giovanni

Vlahos said. “They were up, 2-0, at the half, and then something

clicked and we scored three unanswered goals in the second half.”

It wasn’t until the last five minutes of regulation that

University was able to score the equalizer.

“We did this (comeback) without our captain Derek LeBon, who

re-aggravated an ankle injury he sustained in our previous match

against Tesoro,” Vlahos said.

Previously, Laguna dropped a league match to Tesoro, 6-0.

Vlahos, who also completed his first year as head coach, said the

final score was not indicative of the battle between the teams.

“I was proud at the way our kids played in spurts during this

game, but like I always tell them, it’s an 80-minute game and they

don’t have that grit to go 80 minutes with the best teams in PCL,” he

said.