HUNTINGTON BEACH – One goal changed everything for Laguna Hills on Friday at Edison High.
When Chase Bullock scored for the Chargers in the 60th minute it tied the game at one, starting a little scuffle that forced the Hawks to play the final 20 minutes a man down.
Laguna Hills sophomore defender Juan Gomez smacked an Eidson player in the face as he reached into the net for the ball, drawing a red card.
Then, the Chargers went on the attack, and just eight minutes after Bullock netted the equalizer, Zac Ingalls narrowly guided a shot inside the far post and into the upper right corner of the goal to seal a 2-1 victory.
“We didn’t have the right kind of energy or life in the first half. We could have played much better,” Edison coach Charlie Breneman said. “But I knew that once we got that first goal, that would change everything.”
The triumph improved the Chargers to 2-0 in the tournament, giving them a place in Saturday’s quarterfinals at Laguna Hills High where they will play Santiago, which is also undefeated in the tournament.
Breneman said he’s bringing a “skeleton crew” into the match against the Cavaliers.
“I have one guy who is the kicker for the football team which is playing in a CIF championsip,” Breneman said. “I have two kids taking the SAT on Saturday, and a couple other injuries.”
The Chargers dominated the possession in the first half on Friday, rarely letting the Hawks move past midfield. It took 28 minutes for the Hawks (1-1) to take their first shot of the match. The result was a Gomez goal that gave Laguna Hills a 1-0 lead. Kevin Catalan set up the score for the Hawks.
“The goal is winning (the tournament). That is what we are trying to do,” Breneman said. “But it is tough.”
