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Metro rolls in regionals
The state's under-18 champions fall in the regional quarterfinals
By Dick Sparrer
It was a close game when Los Gatos Metro beat Diablo Valley in the California State Cup finals.
But Los Gatos proved that, while the 2-1 victory over the Renegades may have been close, it was certainly no fluke.
And Metro proved it with a 3-0 win over Diablo Valley when the two clubs met in a rematch last week in the boys' under-18 division at the Snickers United States Youth Soccer regionals in Bakersfield.
Los Gatos opened with back-to-back 3-0 wins over Idaho and Diablo Valley before beating Arizona 3-1 to advance to the tournament quarterfinals.
Metro lost a tough 2-0 decision to the La Jolla Nomads in the quarterfinal round.
Los Gatos opened the rugged regionals with the 3-0 win over Boise National of Idaho. Kelly Gray knocked in a pair of goals, the first off an assist from Brian Rhodes and the second on a header off a pass from Pato Juarez. Juarez later scored off an assist from Ralph Madrigal to lift Los Gatos to the 3-0 victory.
Five players figured in the scoring with goals and assists in the impressive 3-0 win over the Diablo Valley Renegades a game later.
"This was a rematch of the State Cup final," said Metro coach Jeff Rhodes. "The difference in this game, though, was that Metro came out to play."
Los Gatos pounded the Diablo Valley goalkeeper with 20 shots in the first half, but couldn't score. In the second half, it was a different story. Gray took a pass from Juarez and drilled it into the net three minutes into the second half, and that was the only goal Metro really needed to secure the win.
Gatos wasn't finished yet, though. Later in the half, Juarez passed to Jedd Martin "who ripped it into the back of the net," said Rhodes.
In the 75th minute of play, D.C. Cohen drilled a crossing pass with his left foot, and Michael Ching went high in the air for the header and the goal. "It was a spectacular goal," added the coach.
Rhodes praised the efforts of Artin Rodriguez and Steven Biondolillo in the win.
Danny Herbst, Biondolillo, Matt Stolp and Ryan McTighe starred defensively in the two shutouts for Metro, along with goalkeepers Jon Starrett and Matt Heisser.
Juarez buried a pair of goals, and Gray had one in Metro's 3-1 win over Tucson United Premier of Arizona.
The clubs were locked in a scoreless tie at the half, but Juarez got Los Gatos on the board when he scored off a Biondolillo assist early in the second half.
Gray took a pass from Rhodes and turned it into the second Los Gatos goal, and Juarez closed out the scoring when he scored off a pass from Martin.
Brett Dippert, David Ibarra, Joey Randesi and Chris Salvatore are other members of the Metro squad that won the State Cup and qualified for the regionals.
Dynamite explodes
The Cupertino-De Anza Dynamite exploded onto the soccer scene at the California State Cup finals last April, earning a berth in the Snickers regionals in Bakersfield.
And once there, the Dynamite managed to blast its way into the girls under-16 finals before losing a 1-0 heartbreaker to San Dieguito Surf White of San Diego.
To get to the regional finals, the Dynamite had to win five straight games. The locals won three in a row to finish first in their group, then won in the quarterfinals and semifinals to claim a spot in the championship game against Surf White.
Cupertino-De Anza opened with a 3-0 win over the Spanish Peaks Black Dogs of Montana, a 7-0 victory over Capital Strikers of Nevada and a 2-0 triumph over Hawii Kailua '83 to finish first in its group.
The Dynamite exploded for a 5-0 win over Classic FC Attack of New Mexico in the quarterfinals, then edged FC Willamette Pride of Oregon 1-0 in double overtime in the semifinals. A Kate Morgan goal in the second extra period helped the locals clinch the win.
But Cupertino-De Anza lost in the finals to Surf White to settle for second in the regionals.
Members of the Dynamite, coached by Eric Yamamoto and Dan Dalzochio, include Morgan, Yvonne Bailey, Lana Bowen, Jaclyn Campi, Kristen Carpenter, Megan Chimenti, Katie Fyall, Märi Gomes, Megan Gurney, Marina Karzag, Marie McCann, Kate Morgan, Laura Phan, Alyssa Sobolik, Monika Sola, Heidi Spink and Julie Stamps.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
