The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Firebirds nail soccer title, Mats, Pioneers still close

By Mike Barnhart

After putting the finishing touches on the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division championship, the Fremont boys soccer team will enjoy a well-deserved break from competition this week, preparing and resting for its first Central Coast Section playoff appearance in six seasons.

Meanwhile, the girls teams of Monta Vista and Cupertino will compete for division titles of their own and berths in CCS.

Monta Vista (6-0-3) and Los Altos (7-2-0), teams that battled in the CCS Division I championship game last winter, both entered the final week with 21 points, tied for first in the De Anza Division and set to play a home-and-home series with each other.

After playing at Los Altos on Monday, coach Alan Kute's Matadors will oppose Palo Alto (4-4-1, 13) at the Mayfield Soccer Complex, Feb. 6, before returning home for the Los Altos rematch on Feb. 8. Both games are set for 3:30 p.m.

Monta Vista remained on pace with Los Altos by winning twice last week, 2-1 at Los Gatos (4-4-1, 13) and 3-1 at home against Mountain View. Senior captain Rosa Ahn and sophomore Cheryl Kute scored goals against the Wildcats. Freshman Sandra Ley, who assisted on Kute's goal, knocked in two of her own and assisted on another Kute score two days later against Mountain View. Sophomore Michelle Pao tallied two assists against the Spartans.

No matter the results this week, both Monta Vista (10-3-3 overall) and Los Altos (14-3-0) will receive two of the SCVAL's automatic entries into the playoffs, but Cupertino (9-3-6) may have to win the El Camino title to qualify.

"It's always been the top three teams from the De Anza Division and the winner of the El Camino Division," Cupertino coach Kent Fogleman explained, "but other SCVAL teams could make CCS as at-large teams based upon their overall record and total points."

After beating Saratoga 2-1 and tying Milpitas 1-1 last week, the Pioneers (5-0-5, 20) trailed Wilcox (7-3-1, 22) and Saratoga (6-2-3, 21), heading into a make-up game on Feb. 4 against winless Fremont (0-11, 0-15-2).

Forward Christine Adame scored both goals against Saratoga, and defender Ally Hammond preserved the win by clearing a dangerous ball with less than a minute to play. At Milpitas, Adame set up Leore Benchorin's goal.

"Assuming we win at Fremont, we will have 23 points going into Wednesday night," Fogleman said.

Saratoga winds up the season at Wilcox, while Cupertino hosts Lynbrook. Both games are set for 7 p.m. Cupertino, which won the CCS Division III championship in 1999, can finish first in the division and lock up its first playoff berth since 2002 by taking care of its own business. If the Pioneers stumble, a number of scenarios could occur.

Fremont clinches title

Fremont's boys, coached by Fremont alumnus Jose Garcia, wrapped up their first CCS berth since 2002 with a win and a tie last week, despite the absence of some key players.

The biggest game was the first one, a 3-0 victory over Mountain View on Jan. 30. Senior center midfielder Jairo Magana scored two goals in the first half and junior Jerry Ayound nailed the third.

The Firebirds played the game without two key offensive players, who became academically ineligible, and their best defender, who was injured. A fourth player was out sick. Garcia praised the efforts of two call-ups from the frosh-soph, sophomore Calvin Nuti-VanVrost and freshman Brian Robles.

When Mountain View tied Monta Vista 0-0 last Friday afternoon, the Matadors were mathematically eliminated and the El Camino title belonged to Fremont.

Garcia knew the outcome but did not tell the Fremont players before their game at Wilcox Friday night. The Firebirds and Chargers battled to a 2-2 draw.

"Key Fremont players rested, while some other players got playing time and much needed exposure to the varsity level," Garcia explained. "Not the result I wanted, but we were champs already!"