Messi hauls 4 for Lighthouse soccer

SANTA MONICA -- When he heard that goalies take most of the flak for conceded goals, Justin Berry in his debut chickened out.

But on Tuesday, the shot-shy 7th grader goalie started shaky and finished strong to assure Lighthouse Church School's first middle school soccer victory of 2014.

LCA's makeshift team – comprised of a couple real soccer players and the rest volunteers and victims – won against soccer powerhouse Crossroads 6-3.

Granted, it wasn't Crossroads' A-team. But it was, nonetheless, C-r-o-s-s-r-o-a-d-s, where state champions are bred. And Lighthouse, which frankly was a shambles in its first two games, won! Ha!

It was classic Lighthouse. Mix education with sports to form character. Turn class clowns into crack athletes.

Justin – a basketball star putting his sticky fingers to work in front of a much bigger net than he's used to – found himself in the Jan. 7 game.

After Lighthouse took an early lead with some quick cuts to goal, Crossroads in tune with its pedigree came from behind to take the lead. Justin – who had trained for keeper but refused to assume the #1 spot in his first game – looked nervous and let some knuckleheaded bumbling balls get past him..

At 2-1, Lighthouse looked to lose – again.

But Coach Tim Siregar had masterminded a lineup overhaul that hid the team's weaknesses and surfaced its strengths.

Also, the attacking twosome of Alex Cervantes and Hosea Ashcraft proved lethal. With tricky toes, they danced through defenders. At half-time, Lighthouse was tied 3-3 with the Home of Champions, and the final result was up for grabs.

In their most recent game just before Christmas break, Lighthouse squandered a 2-1 half-time lead against WNS. Forwards acted selfishly, defenders set up opponents for goals. And the ne'er-do-wells had to settle for a 2-2 tie. (Read story here.)

This time instead of imploding, Lighthouse exploded. Alex and Hosea plowed through defensive lines with quick back-and-forth passes. Midfielders launched dangerous through-balls.

Jazmin Cervantes, who sometimes risks looking like the rooted variety of her name on the field, surprised even herself with a pass that converted into goal. That's one assist for the flower.

Hosea, whose goal haul totaled four by match's end, pulled a Lionel Messi. Receiving a ball from a goal kick deep in defensive territory, he solo-dribbled, juking past five players, to appear on the startled goalie's right side with no angle to slot home. How do you blunt such bloodthirstiness? (We don't have a video of Hosea, but here's Messi's.)

It was inspiring to watch 6th grader Cassy Williams, another newbie, play with aggressiveness usually associated with the male gender. She repeatedly pressured in the midfield, stopping and slowing opponents, and won possession.

Part of the victory was clearly due to Levi Photenhauer, a redheaded Norman Rockwell kid who dreams of Hollywood stardom. To support the team, Levi skipped an audition, an unheard-of slight in an unforgiving industry. He missed the stage performance, but his soccer performance staged LCS' win.

Laughing and smiling at the end of the game was Justin, who had forgotten his nervousness. If he was terrified at the beginning of the game, he was terrifying to opponents by the end of the game. He launched himself into the air to bat down rockets with his fists.

High-fiving his teammates, Justin stood tall, his shoulders no longer slouching sheepishly. He'll be ready for varsity soccer at Lighthouse Christian Academy.