THE PREPS : ROUNDUP : South Ends North Streak in Soccer

The South finally broke the North’s grip on the Orange County senior all-star boys’ soccer game, as they scored two second-half goals for a 3-2 victory Saturday night at Chapman University.

Teams from the North have dominated the event (4-0) since it started five years ago.

But the South, coached by Woodbridge’s Jon Szczuka, turned the tables as Santa Margarita’s Shawn Saunders sent the ball downfield to a streaking Gustav Graetzer (Woodbridge) who headed it into the corner of the goal with 21 minutes left for the victory.

Graetzer was named most valuable player for the South, with Lalo Rodriguez of Orange taking the honors for the North.

The North took an early lead with 24 minutes left in the first half when Brian Huskey from Cypress arched a shot from the right sideline that sailed into the corner of the net as goalkeeper Scott Hainlen (Fountain Valley) could do nothing but watch.

The South, which outshot the North 17-12, tied the score at 1-1, with nine minutes left in the half as Woodbridge’s Mike Bartholemew got the ball on the right side of the net and chipped it up and over Mark Zubiate’s (El Dorado) head.

Five minutes into the second half Graetzer assisted on the goal that put the South ahead, 2-1, when he placed a header in front of the net where Capistrano Valley’s Todd Weidner drilled it past a diving Sean Bartko (Villa Park). Bartko, playing in the second half, finished the night with four saves, including a penalty shot from Weidner with 16 minutes left.

Rodriguez tied the score at 2-2 with 36 minutes remaining, as he got the ball on the run directly in front of the goal, took two steps and slammed the ball into the corner beyond the reach of Eddy Lopez (Saddleback). Lopez had three saves in the second half for the South.