Falcons Pull Off Overtime Win to Advance in Playoffs

By Timithie NORMAN

The Crescenta Valley High School boys’ soccer team claimed a hard-fought victory over the Laguna Beach Breakers Thursday to advance to the second round of CIF playoffs.

After trailing 2-0 at the half, senior forward Pavle Atanackovic knocked two headers into the net just five minutes apart to tie it up 2-2 with 28 minutes left in the game. Regulation time ran out with no further score, so the two teams entered into “golden goal” overtime, when the first goal scored wins the game.

The Falcons drove hard and were awarded a free kick near midfield just a few minutes into the first 10-minute half. Senior Alex Berger placed the ball perfectly and Atanackovic headed it in to complete his third hat trick of the season and win the game 3-2.

“The sun was sort of in my eyes,” Atanackovic said. “I guess it was muscle memory. It just came together.”

“Pavle is really good with his head,” said head coach Grant Clark. “He always seems to find the ball.”

The Falcons travel to Baldwin Park to face Sierra Vista High School on Tuesday in the second round of Division IV playoffs.