Race gets tighter

On a cold, rainy night Wednesday at Guyer Field, the Laguna Beach boys’ soccer team suffered its first defeat of the 2008 Orange Coast League season.

Calvary Chapel came into town, took a 2-1 halftime lead and made it stand to move into a tie in the standings with the Breakers at 2-1-1.

The teams fought to a 1-1 tie in their league opener Jan. 11.

Tommy Hopper scored Laguna’s only goal off an assist from Austin Hyden.

Alex Germano had four saves.

“Calvary Chapel was more hungry than we were to win this,” Laguna Coach Patrick Coyne said. “We played nice soccer in the second half and spent a lot of that half on their side of the field.”

Previous to Wednesday’s match, Laguna scored a 2-0 league victory at Estancia on Jan. 18 in a physical battle that gave first place in the league standings to the victor.

The Breakers scored goals in each half, with Hyden and Sheldon Eaton doing the scoring.

Hopper and Caine Fair had assists and the Breakers defense got the shutout. Germano recorded four saves, with Eaton and Michael Tachovsky each also getting a save.

The first Breaker goal was a header by Eaton on a throw-in by Fair.

A cross by Hopper was followed by a flick by Fair, setting up Hyden’s goal.

Germano had an outstanding save when he stopped a shot by the Eagles from point-blank range, just seven feet away from the goal with less than five minutes to play.

Tough play up front by Tim Fulton and the midfield play of Bryce Healy, Ian Greene and Edgar Rabadan also keyed the victory.

Laguna travels to Costa Mesa today for a 3 p.m. league match, then returns home Wednesday to host Estancia at 6 p.m. at Guyer Field.

“I think if we get a bit more hungry and play with passing, we can win this league,” Coyne said. “We have a lot of games left on the road and we can’t afford another loss.”