High School Roundup: Laguna Beach boys’ soccer team opens with tie with El Dorado
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The Laguna Beach boys’ soccer team got its season started on Monday when it traveled to Placentia to take on El Dorado. The Breakers overcame a 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead, but settled for a 2-2 draw against the host Golden Hawks.
Senior forwards Tommy Ressler and Willy Wheeler scored for Laguna.
“Considering this was our first game of the year and we were playing against a far more experienced side, I’m very happy with getting a tie on the road,” Laguna Coach Dan Richards said. “It was a very competitive and physical game, showing all our young players just what to expect for the season ahead.”
Ressler’s goal tied the score, and Wheeler’s gave the Breakers a 2-1 halftime advantage.
“Although we would obviously have liked to keep the lead and seen out the game to get the win, the fact that we had three freshmen and two sophomores play the majority of the game shows just how much potential the team has this season,” Richards said. “Blake (Bunce, sophomore) did a great job in goal for us and made a couple of key saves. He showed a lot of maturity throughout the game and I was very happy with his performance.
“We created some good chances and look dangerous at times going forward. We came close on several occasions including having a goal disallowed for offsides, and also had one (shot) off the post.”
Laguna was to open its home schedule on Wednesday at Guyer Field against Dana Hills. The match was called in the first half due to weather, Richards said.
The Breakers are home on Friday to Northwood and next Tuesday to Trabuco Hills. Both nonleague games start at 6:30 p.m. at Guyer Field. They travel on Dec. 12 to face Tesoro at 6:15 p.m.
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Girls’ Soccer
The Breakers’ nonleague home game scheduled for Tuesday against Laguna Hills was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Breakers start play on Saturday at the Ocean View Holiday Tournament. They take on the Tustin Tillers at 5:20 p.m. at Tustin High. Next week, they host Sage Hill in a 5 p.m. nonleague game on Tuesday at Guyer Field.
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Boys’ Basketball
The Breakers started their 2014-15 season on a winning note on Monday by taking care of Anaheim, 57-35, in their opening game at the Grizzly Invitational hosted by Godinez.
Freshman wing Blake Burzell, in his first varsity game, led the way with a game-high 24 points. Junior guard Isaac Wulff scored 10 points.
“We played fairly well and Isaac (Wulff) did a nice job of running the team and getting everyone involved,” Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said.
In their second tournament game played Tuesday, the Breakers lost, 61-48, to Aliso Niguel. Burzell scored 18 points, junior guard Spencer Wong had nine points, and freshman guard Charlie Rounaghi had seven points.
“We played poorly with a lot of turnovers,” Fleming said. “With a couple kids out, we’re trying to figure out how we need to play to be successful.”
Laguna resumes tournament play on Friday. The tournament concludes on Saturday.
Next Wednesday, the Breakers play their home opener against Dana Hills at 7 p.m.
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Girls’ Basketball
The Breakers started their season on Monday at the Corona del Mar Tournament and dropped a 36-18 game to Mission Viejo.
Sydney DeCarlo led Laguna in scoring with nine points, and Nicole Davidson had five points.
Laguna trailed, 10-9, at the half.
“We didn’t make enough shots and we had a span of about three-to-four minutes in the third quarter where we didn’t execute well in the half-court and turned the ball over too much,” Laguna Coach Mark Lewis said. “That was pretty much where and when the game was decided.
“Overall, I was pleased with the effort, pleased with the defense. We need to clean up the offensive end, take better care of the ball, and knock down a few shots and we will be right there.”
Laguna is back in tourney action Friday and again on Saturday, the final day of the tournament.
Next Monday, the Breakers begin play at the Ocean View Hawk Holiday Classic. They open against Compton Dominguez at 3 p.m. at Pacifica High. Their next tourney game is at 3 p.m. next Thursday against Santa Ana Valley at Ocean View.
Twitter: @MikeSciacca