Tesoro will have to wait until Thursday to clinch the Sea View League boys soccer championship.
After beating the visiting Titans, 3-2, on Tuesday night, Laguna Hills moved to within one point of first-place Tesoro.
A victory against the Hawks would have wrapped up the Titans’ first league championship in five seasons.
The Hawks will play host to Trabuco Hills in the season finale while Capistrano Valley will travel to Tesoro on Thursday. For the Hawks to move past the Titans and into first place, Laguna Hills needs to beat the Mustangs and the Cougars have to defeat the Titans. If Tesoro (13-4-4, 6-1) wins, the title belongs to the Titans no matter what Laguna Hills does.
“I am still happy with the way that we have played. If we get a league title, that would be great. The boys have shown a lot of character as a family,” Laguna Hills coach Shion Jahangiri said. “This year we emphasized family, and I think that everyone has adapted. If we get second place, that is fine. We will have good fire heading into the playoffs.”
Despite facing one of the best group of defenders in the county, The Hawks (12-5-3, 5-1-1) still managed to post their third consecutive three-goal game.
Brett Jones, Aaron Zambudio and Ryan Bishop each scored for the Hawks. Jones, wrapped a 20-yard free kick around the Titans’ walls and into the back of net in the 23rd minute. Zambudio headed in a Juan Gomez corner kick in the 34th, and Bishop put the Hawks up 3-1 in the 51st, heading in a cross from Jones.
It was Bishops’ 20th goal of the season, which puts him in second place in the county behind Bryan Ibarra, who has knocked in 25 goals for Godinez.
“I am blessed. He just happens to be in the right place at the right time and is scoring a lot of goals,” Jahangiri said of Bishop.
During Monday’s practice, Jahangiri said he worked on having the Hawks adapt to the Titans’ playing style, and added a high-pressure defense to the game plan.
“And I think that shook them up a little,” Jahangiri said. “They were a little off of their game. Still a great team, but I think our game plan led up to our victory.”
Jake Vollmnd and Riley Wortman both scored for the Titans, who had a great chance to get another goal in the 45th when Derek Bowen took aim from inside the 6-yard box. But James Stephen made a diving one-handed save, one of the six shots that he stopped for Laguna Hills on Tuesday night.
In other soccer:
El Toro 5, San Juan Hills 0: Elijah Amadin finished with two goals and an assist to help the visiting Chargers beat the Mustangs and clinch the South Coast League championship.
