Laguna boys’ U14 soccer team rolling

A team meeting was all it took for the Laguna Beach Soccer Club’s

boys’ under-14 squad to regain its energy.

Refocused as it began the second round of play in the Coast Soccer

League, Laguna came up with two impressive victories by defeating

Corona del Mar, 2-1, and gained a measure of revenge on San Juan

United by posting a 3-1 win.

In beating Corona del Mar, Laguna jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Alex

Germano caused the opposition a great deal of trouble with his

strength and speed.

Germano hit a low shot into the corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Just before the half, he was fouled in the box. Bryce Healey stepped

up and drove an unstoppable penalty shot into the top corner to make

it 2-0.

Graham Harris, Noah Michelon, Yorel Porcile and Jack Monroe

provided strong defensive work.

Sunday, Laguna faced its biggest challenge of the season against

San Juan United, which had previously defeated Laguna, 5-0, early in

the season.

Carrying the momentum gained from the Corona del Mar triumph,

Laguna came out and played some of its “best soccer ever,” coach Andy

Thomas said.

Michael Lewis and Tommy Hopper were instrumental in creating all

the early scoring opportunities, providing some strong wing play from

the wide midfield positions.

Caine Fair was playing as a lone striker but still caused San Juan

problems with his running of the ball.

Fair was soon rewarded for his efforts. He went on to drive a left

foot volley into the roof of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The start could not have been better, Thomas said.

With 10 minutes to play, San Juan tied the score, but Laguna came

right back.

Led by Graham Harris, who was doing the work of “10 men,” Thomas

said, Laguna surged forward.

Tommy Hopper received a pass out wide, and with no support,

decided to take the San Juan defense on his own. Beating two

defenders, and facing the oncoming goalkeeper, Hopper timed his

finish perfectly, sliding the ball underneath the keeper, to make it

2-1.

Laguna was not finished.

Noah Michelon spotted Michael Lewis on the right, and delivered a

40-yard pass to his teammate.

Lewis beat his defender, dribbled around the advancing goalkeeper,

then dished off a pass to an onrushing Fair, who blasted the ball

into the net to give Laguna a 3-1 victory.

“I could not possibly be any prouder of the boys who put in a

fantastic squad performance that has set the standard for the

remaining half of the season,” Thomas said.

In boys’ under-13 action:

Laguna 1, Irvine 1

Laguna, coached by Tony Peiffer, played a strong match in tying

second-place Irvine.

Down a goal, Ian Greene smashed a great free kick into the roof of

the net to give Laguna a tie.