The end of 2015 was an exciting time for the Los Alamitos boys soccer program. All teams were busy with their last tournament play before the Sunset League games kick off Jan. 6.
Teams were still in the process of developing team chemistry for the upcoming whirlwind season that challenges the body as well as the mind with two league games a week through the end of the season.
Los Alamitos was entered in the So Cal High School Classic for the second year in a row. The tournament is a true showcase tournament in the top National division, which includes several top 10 teams in Cathedral, Servite, St. John Bosco, Richmond (Northern California), Loyola, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) and Brophy College Prep out of Phoenix, A.Z. The competition was top of the line and all games were competitive with each goal being crucial to the advancement out of pool play.
Los Alamitos played Servite to a 2-2 draw where a 2-1 lead slipped away with less than 90 seconds remaining in the opening game match. The second match was against Cathedral Catholic which resulted in a 1-0 contest that was not that close. The final game in pool play was against Richmond and was one of the “lopsided” matches of the tournament with a 3-1 victory as the team generated many opportunities with only 3 resulting in points on the board.
With a 2-0-1 record resulting in 22 points and Servite also having the same record and number of points, the tie breaker was Goals Against which with Los Alamitos giving up 3 and Servite giving up 4, Los Alamitos was the number one team coming out of pool “A” play to come out to face the number 2 team from Pool “B.” The semi-final was an exciting match with Brophy College Prep. The game was a tight contest that could not be resolved in 80 minutes of regulation but had to add two potential 10 minute overtime periods to find a winner.
The Golden Goal came in the first overtime period on a throw in from the Los Al side of the field to midfield where Kevin Herring passed the ball up to Julian Guerrero who took the ball closer to the net and placed the ball perfectly away from the keeper for the winning goal. The play was controversial as the throw in by Senior Adam Havstad had a Brophy player foul Adam and the Center Ref called advantage while warning the player but let play continue. That resulted in a wild victory celebration with Senior Julian Guerrero racing to show his excitement on the pitch.
The Wednesday night victory allowed Los Alamitos to represent Pool “A” in the Final against one of the top soccer programs in California, Cathedral Catholic from Los Angeles.
The 9 a.m start meant both teams had to deal with endurance and stamina issues as it would be the fifth game in four days for both programs and the intense play at this level resulted in a lot of aches, pains, cramps and sprained ankles. Several of the Los Alamitos players were barely able to walk after the game and as the grind from the previous games mounted, it became obvious, the players would suck it up and leave everything on the field for the chance to bring home the championship.
The game was an even match all the way and the winning goal came off a Adam Havstad throw in that Julian Guerrero was able to tip and alter the path of the ball just over the reach of a crashing keeper and into the goal with a defender desperately reaching to keep the ball out. Both teams put some nice plays and attempts at the goal but with Senior Alec Lazer making several key saves, the victory was Los Al’s to celebrate and hoist the trophy presented to them for their outstanding team effort and accomplishment.
The 2016 season is geared to be another exciting and successful run by the Griffins as they challenge to bring the Sunset League title back to Los Alamitos and build on last year’s deep run in the third round of the CIF Playoffs.