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Laguna Beach boys soccer wins Division 4 title by slipping past Yucaipa in penalty kicks

March 2, 2025

ORANGE – Cole Anderson watched the eyes. They may be the window to the soul, but to Laguna Beach’s senior goalkeeper, they’re also the compass for a shooter in penalty kicks.

Where the eyes go, the ball follows.

Anderson broke to his left as Yucaipa’s Sergio Briseno kicked to his right. And in a flash, Anderson had stopped the Thunderbirds’ best scoring threat after 100 scoreless minutes.

“We’ve got this in the bag,” Anderson recalled saying to himself after making the save in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 boys championship at El Modena High. “My best friend’s taking the next one (for Laguna Beach), and I’ve got full confidence in him. He doesn’t miss penalty kicks.”

No, he doesn’t. In a golden goal moment, Max Garner’s shot to his right was deflected by Yucaipa keeper Brennen Little, but the ball still carried enough forward momentum to trickle to the back of the net.

Garner’s goal gave Laguna Beach a 3-2 victory in a shootout that ended the Breakers’ 23-year championship drought.

The team’s previous titles came in 1997, 1998, and 2002 – all under the guidance of coach Andy Thomas over two different tenures, from 1997-2004, and 2019 to the present.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life as a soccer player,” Anderson said after the Breakers extended their legacy with a fourth championship in five title games.

Laguna Beach improved to 18-4-5, while Yucaipa dropped to 17-8-4.

“Cole is such a calm, collected individual,” Thomas said. “He doesn’t look like he’s engaged, and then he comes up when it matters. He always has the clutch moments … and does it lacking fuss. He just gets the job done when it matters.”

It mattered Saturday, and then Garner’s game-winner set off jubilation on one side and misty eyes on the other. Yucaipa had matched the Breakers throughout. They controlled the first half, and was every bit as formidable as the winners.

“Both keepers played really well,” Garner said. “You’ve got to pick a side as a keeper and make sure you get your hands on it. He picked the right side on that one – just a little more power on my side.

“I’m surprised I’m not crying right now.”

Max Garner, the last kicker in a shootout, gave Laguna Beach a 3-2 win on penalty kicks after the Breakers played to a scoreless tie with Yucaipa in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 title game Saturday, March 1. (Photo by Martin Henderson)

The tears were left for the Thunderbirds.

“We fought to the very end, emptied the tank,” Yucaipa coach Ryan Montgomery said. “When you get to penalties, it’s 50/50. The keeper can make the right decision or the player can make the right decision. He made the right decision. He got his hands on the last one, he tried his best.”

Angel Romero and Kenny Sandoval scored penalty kicks for Yucaipa. But Anderson blocked the second kick, the fourth went wide left, and then he smothered Briseno’s shot to try to break the 2-2 tie on the fifth attempt.

Little, who had made a great play in the first minute of the second overtime to prevent Nayan Martlin from scoring by meeting the ball well in front of the box, blocked the first and third shots in the shootout. He was unsuccessful stopping the PK attempt by Martlin, which tied the score at 1-1, and Jackson Arrasin, which tied the score at 2-2.

Dylan Petrie-Norris hit the crossbar before Garner put the game away with a hard shot to his right that Brennen got a big piece of – but not big enough.

“That’s a bloody nerve-wracking way to win,” Thomas said. “It’s still better than losing though.”

Both teams were terrific on defense and scoring chances were limited. The best chance for Yucaipa took place with two minutes remaining in the second overtime but Briseno missed high from seven yards.

Montgomery praised the play of Yucaipa’s Romero and defender Edson Chavez.

Thomas said the seniors were a special group as freshmen. They knew it, too.

“Since Day 1 of high school, this is what we’ve been working toward,” Anderson said. “Wrapping it up our senior year means the world.

“It’s almost a relief. This team is so good, and we’ve always known we were so good. Last year we got stopped short in the finals in a game we felt we should have won. So it’s a relief to get this far and win it all and finally accomplish this with this amazing group.”

Laguna Beach boys soccer wins Division 4 title by slipping past Yucaipa in penalty kicks Orange County Register

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Laguna Beach boys soccer wins Division 4 title by slipping past Yucaipa in penalty kicks

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