Jesuit, Davis headline tough Delta League

In the San-Joaquin Section, there is a league that is like no other. It’s a league that does not get a lot of fanfare, but it includes two powerhouses, is solid up and down and is the only league that contains seven Division I teams. The Delta League does not offer a lot of respite for weary teams, and it is a full-on battle when Davis and Jesuit meet. They continue to be the top teams in the league. The two sides squared off on Jan. 6, with the Marauders entering the day as the top team in PrepSoccer’s Northern California rankings. Davis entered the match ranked 13th and came away with a 1-0 win. As Davis coach Alex Park put it when the Blue Devils play Jesuit, it’s a big rivalry and even when they are undermanned they go at Jesuit with all they have. And for good reason. Jesuit has won 14 SJS Division I titles in coach Paul Rose’s tenure. Rose is in his 43rd season on the touchline. And if you want to use everyone’s favorite, the transitive property, Jesuit and Davis should be considered serious SJS and NorCal contenders. Both teams have a win over Whitney, a team that beat Cathedral at the De La Salle Showcase. Cathedral is a team that has beat DLS, drew with Bellarmine (who drew with Servite), etc, etc... there are a dozen threads that you could pull in this regard. The teams are led by some very talented players. <strong>Kaleb Afsari, Jesuit, Junior, Attacking Midfielder</strong> You look at Afsari and you see a small player and a defender might overlook him because of this. That would be a mistake. He’s a great athlete. A unique player that, as Rose put it, doesn’t come around too often. He’s a combination of soccer sense and skill. He understands space, his touch directs the ball in the space in which he needs to go. He’s a great dribbler who uses his athleticism and speed to skin defenders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="8825" first="Zach" last="Anderson"], Davis, Senior, Central Midfielder</strong> Anderson is the Blue Devils captain and the brains of the operations. He’s the playmaker who keeps the ball moving, distributes well, and has a work rate that doesn’t stop. He’s talented, skillful, and fun to watch, but he’s humble, works hard is a good leader, and never misses training. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="8430" first="Oliver" last="Black"], Jesuit, Senior, Forward</strong> Black is a very big attacking player for the Marauders. He is very good going forward, using good speed and size. He can play up top and out on the side. A skilled player with the ball at his feet who can score, create and deliver a good ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="7373" first="Daniel" last="Jebri"], Davis, Senior, Midfield/Striker</strong> Jebry has very good presence on the pitch. He is very dynamic with the ball and is very attack-minded. He’s a technically sound player who is very dangerous because of his skill, size, and speed. <img class="size-medium wp-image-37742 alignright" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/01/Nic-Montano-300x220.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="220" /><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="8388" first="Nicolas" last="Montano"], Davis, Senior, Attacking Midfielder</strong> Montano is a very dangerous player in the No. 10 spot for the Blue Devils. He’s very creative on the ball. He is the team’s playmaker in the midfield, he can shoot from distance, he’s a great free-kick taker and he’s talented with both feet. <strong>Nick Strangio, Jesuit, Senior, Central Defender</strong> Strangio was the California Player of the Year as a junior. He’s committed to St. Mary’s College, and for good reason. He is a 6-foot-3 center back who is fast and skilled. He was originally a No. 9 before moving to the back line. He’s great in the air, great on the ground and very hard to get around for attacking players. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="8674" first="Simon" last="Vaca-Lorenzi"], Davis, Junior, Striker</strong> Vaca-Lorenzi was a starter as a sophomore, earning his spot and keeping his spot as an underclassman. He shows great composure for a young player and did so in the win against Jesuit. He had an opportunity to go for glory, and instead of going for goal he set the game-winning goal up by drawing out the center back. He can beat 2-3 players, but also can open up spaces for teammates because he can hold the ball up against 2-3 players. <img class="size-medium wp-image-37741 alignright" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/01/Caleb-Yoon-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="7213" first="Caleb" last="Yoon"], Davis, Junior, Holding Midfielder</strong> Yoon is a player with a ton of heart. He’s the kind of guy who will get stuck in, will make challenges, and make tackles. He holds down the back half of the field. His hold-up play is great, he reads the game well and makes smart decisions. He’s smaller player, but very strong and fierce.