Dana Hills, Laguna Beach Boys Soccer Teams Play to 1-1 Draw

The Laguna Beach boys soccer team is off to a good start coming off of a rebuilding season, while Dana Hills is still looking for that winning edge.

But both teams found plenty to be excited about after their 1-1 tie in a nonleague match under a steady downpour Friday night at Laguna Beach High.

"During the whole game, we're very happy with how they're playing," said Laguna Beach's first-year coach, Daniel Richards, who was born in London. "We're progressing very well. We've been mixing it up a bit with our formations."

Laguna Beach (1-0-2) scored in the 26^th minute after forward Sam Stinnett beat his man one-on-one off a pass from Morgan Curry that threaded the needle between two defenders. Stinnett beat Dolphins goal keeper Rony Alay on the play.

"I was making a run to the right corner of the field and the ball was on the left side, which Morgan got to," Stinnett said. "When they stepped up to try to get me off-sides, I stayed with them, and when the ball got played back to Mo', none of their defenders saw me. I turned, took a couple touches and crossed their keeper."

Stinnett had another breakaway opportunity in the 35th minute, but Alay stopped the sliding attempt.

Dana Hills Brent Godlewski scored the equalizer off a corner kick by Chris Linn, an uncontested, point-blank blast past goal keeper Alec Williams, who otherwise played well. Williams made five saves, including a leaping, one-handed one in the 31^st minute.

Alay also had a strong game in goal for the Dolphinss, making four saves.

"We kept on getting chances," Godlewski said. "We'd get there eventually. I was there in the right spot. We connected a lot better in the second half."

Despite his team's 2-7-2 record, Dana Hills coach Leo Compean liked what he saw on Friday. The opportunities were there, with Brian Munguia hitting a ball off the crossbar in the 11^th  minute, Munguia nearly striking again in the 53^rd minute but having his shot turned away by a Laguna defender, and Nick Kouatli putting the loose ball just wide right of the goal.

"I wish it would've gone our way," Compean said. "I felt we dominated the second half. We passed to our style, played our pace.... We couldn't finish, which unfortunately is the story of our season."

Munguia had three shots on goal. Dolphins Nick Espinoza, Alex Hefter, Kouatli and Linn each had one.