Boys' soccer: La Habra declines SoCal Regional invite

Because of non-soccer commitments, one of which is the opening of the school's production of the musical "The Music Man", the La Habra boys' soccer team has decided not to participate in the inaugural SoCal Regional. The Highlanders (26-4-1), who would have likely been awarded the No. 2 seed in Division I, are the second team to pull out of the postseason tournament -- Lancaster Desert Christian has also decided not to participate.

La Habra ended its season on Saturday by winning its second consecutive Southern Section Division III title. Saddleback, which lost to the Highlanders in the final for a second consecutive season, was seeded No. 2 in the SoCal Regional. Newbury Park, which lost to Santa Margarita in the Division II finals on Saturday, benefited the most from La Habra's departure as they were seeded No. 8.

The decision not to play was hard, but it was the right one, said Coach Steven Aanderud, who's son Bryan is on of five players on the team who is also participating in the musical.

-- Jaime Cardenas

"It was sort of tough, but once everything was laid out it was an easy decision to make," said Aanderud, who added that he didn't feel it was fair to the tournament to play with a team that was not at its best.

"You [also] don't want to end the season on a low note, wondering what if.... It's better to end on a high."

The school's production of "The Music Man" raises its curtain on Thursday with two performances and two more on Saturday. The SoCal Regional has games on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

On top of the five actors, four other soccer players also play for the school's baseball team, whose season has already begun, and two others would have had to sit out Tuesday's game after receiving two yellow cards each on Saturday. Out of the 11 players who would be missing, six were starters.

-- Jaime Cardenas

-- Image from www.lhhsguild.com