Teams, Players to watch in each NCS league
It’s mid-January and league races are heating up in the North Coast Section. Not only are teams getting back from Winter Break, but teams are getting back on the pitch after COVID delays. There are many teams with several matches…
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Continue ReadingIt’s mid-January and league races are heating up in the North Coast Section. Not only are teams getting back from Winter Break, but teams are getting back on the pitch after COVID delays. There are many teams with several matches to make up, so the landscape could change in a hurry with the opportunity to get nine points in a week.
Here is a look at one team that could make a push in each league, and a player that could help them make that push.
Bay Counties League
With Marin Academy and University appearing to be the top two teams in the BCL, watch out for Lick-Wilmerding. The Tigers are coming off of a 4-0 win over Urban, and their only league loss at the time of this article was a 2-1 against University, which is considered one of the favorites.
“We are a team that finds success when we can high press and control the game through our attacking instincts,” Lick-Wilmerding coach Benkay Kajihara said. “More often than not we will be a team that creates more opportunities than the opponent. It will come down to converting these opportunities.”
Ben Pennell could be the key that unlocks the door to a league title. He is a senior who plays the No. 10 and the No. 9. He should rack up the goals and assists for the Tigers. He has a great shot, is a cool finisher whether it be putting away a cross or shooting from outside the box. He is a kid who can lead the press defensively and is dangerous on set pieces.
Bay Valley Athletic League
You can’t really call Freedom a dark horse, as the defending league champions should be considered one of (if not THE) favorite. However, it feels like Pittsburg always receives deference and this year is no different as the Falcons will have to prove it again. And this bunch can do just that.
“Our ability to deal with adversity is what our team does well,” Freedom coach Sal Acevedo said. “Mental toughness is a big part of our training.”
Acevedo mentioned how the team had to come from behind several times in non-league games to get wins, and because of that are 4-1-0. However, this isn’t the only attribute the team has.
“Our program has been focused on building a strong team culture in which each player knows their own, and their teammates’ expectations,” Acevedo said. “We hold each other accountable. We hold ourselves accountable with no excuses. This has built great respect among the players. They are a tight-knit group that supports each other.”
Every team needs a motor, and for Freedom, that motor is Angel Rondon. The senior plays the No. 8 position and controls the central midfield. He is the bridge between supporting the defense and helping build up the attack. He is a big, strong player who is very technical, and displays great vision. He is truly a box-to-box midfielder who can defend, switch the point of attack or possess. He is great with the ball at his feet, loves to have the ball at his feet, has a powerful shot but his best attribute might be that he never stops working and leads his teammates by example.
Diablo Athletic League – Foothill Division
The two divisions in this league updates often, but one thing is true for either side of the league, and that is that Ygnacio Valley is always in the mix. A team that had a fantastic run as a powerhouse in the NCS in the 2010’s decade, they are still very talented and beyond that, they are going to improve because they are coachable.
“The group is coachable and hard-working,” Ygnacio Valley coach Cesar Chavez said. “We don’t have the talent that we used to, but this group follows direction better than any other group I’ve had.”
Ronald Lopez, a junior striker, could be the YV X-factor as he is a very dynamic and creative player.
Diablo Athletic League – Valley Division
The Miramonte Matadors are off to a great start, so watch out for them in the DAL Valley. They have a win over perennial league contender Concord and hold a six-point lead atop the league. Some teams have to make up some games due to COVID, but regardless the Mats are off and running and playing an exciting brand.
“The team has done a great job in our matches so far showing they can keep possession of the ball throughout the majority of our games,” Miramonte coach Masood Ahmadi said. “This has helped give us a chance to compete in each game.”
It has been a well-rounded effort amongst the players, with many kids contributing. If there is one player you can pinpoint as the lynchpin for Miramonte, it would be senior Henry Hill. He plays center back a majority of the time and he’s the anchor that solidifies the back line. He’s calm and collected with the ball, and defensively he is great at shutting down the opposing threats.
East Bay Athletic League – Mountain Division
The California Grizzlies are the surprise team in this side of the North Coast Section’s best league. Cal started off with an outlier, a draw against Mission San Jose, but since has draws against DI powers Montgomery and Vintage, and very good wins over DI powers De La Salle and San Ramon Valley to have them right in the thick of the race.
Cal plays organized, they have very technical players and an outstanding goal keeper in Nicky McCune.
“Our guys love the game, play for each other and have a strong bond,” Cal coach Jose Mena said. “They work extremely hard, respect each other and have a lot of fun on and off the field. It comes down to our team’s chemistry and focus on the small details.”
The Grizzlies have several standout players, but not one that stands out as the X-factor type player.
“Our seniors are our X-factor,” Mena said. “Every game so far this year there have been one or two different guys that have done things to make a play, pick a guy up or make a significant difference. They truly believe in having all 11 guys on the field contribute during the game.”
East Bay Athletic League – Valley Division
It has not been the prettiest of starts for the Amador Valley Dons, starting 2-3 in league play. But the last two losses have been close, hard-fought contests against Granada and No. 1 ranked Monte Vista. AV seems on the cusp of getting the ship righted, and it’s not too late in a wide-open EBAL Valley.
The Dons have a good mix of speed, height, and experience. They have nine seniors, 10 juniors, and have three talented sophomores. Coach Scott Berglin stated that this is the deepest bench he’s had at his time at Amador. And what is just as important is that his players are starting to get healthy.
The Dons are led by Andrew McMasters and Oliver De La Torre, two junior forwards with size, strength, and speed. They pair that with striking ability and create threats regularly. Senior captain Saif Rajabali leads the defense, commanding organization and discipline while senior midfielder Kyle Larsen brings experience, skill, and soccer IQ to the middle of the pitch.
Marin County Athletic League
The East Bay Athletic League may get regard as the top league in the East Bay, but the MCAL is not far behind. And as far as parody goes, it doesn’t get much better. Entering Friday four teams were within striking distance of first place, and all four of them are regarded as top, top teams.
One of those teams is the San Rafael Bulldogs. They sit four points behind Archie Williams and Tamalpais and have gone through a recent brutal stretch of their schedule with their championship hopes intact.
If one thing is going to propel them to a league title, it’s going to be the bond they have as a squad.
“What has made our team successful this season is the unity that this group of boys has,” San Rafael coach Jose De La Rosa said. “Even on campus you can always find them together, even during lunch and brunch. They are a family by all means of the word. That goes a long way on the field with their commitment to work together for the team.”
The X-factor for San Rafael is junior striker Norman Tellez. He leads the team in assists, is a disruptive offensive force who is always working very hard and is completely selfless, doing whatever he needs to do for the team.
Mission Valley Athletic League
This may not seem like much of a dark horse, as Logan is always in the MVAL mix, but Newark Memorial has become the perennial favorite. Logan, however, is always considered a favorite and a team to beat in this league. This year, is no exception. They may have gotten off to a slow start, with a 4-6-1 mark (but are 3-1 in MVAL play) but not many teams have played their schedule. The Colts have played San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista, De La Salle, Clayton Valley, and Freedom — five of the top Division I teams in NCS.
“Our team once again believes in themselves,” Logan co-head coach Sergio Alejandro Valle said. “Last spring we were able to capitalize on the chemistry the juniors and seniors had been refining over the last three years. Now, this season, the team found themselves having to re-establish a foundation.”
The Colts are looking to find the right balance and are beginning to tap into it. They are starting to trust one another, play for each other and rise to the occasion.
They don’t have one player as the focus, as the focus at Logan is “the ball is king” meaning whoever is on the ball, takes care of the ball.
However, standout players consist of seniors Sergio Alejandro Valle II, Daniel Valencia, Maseh Siraj and Paul Padilla as well as juniors Julian Valle and Ricky Butron.
North Bay League
Climate and culture matter very, very much and right now the Maria Carrillo boys team is in a very good place. There is that community within this Pumas team where it’s about the squad, and not about the individual. Senior leaders such as Adrian Valencia Adrian Valencia D CA , Evan Lepe, Oswaldo Rodriguez, Carlos Lopez, Alex Dipman, and Franco Canseco, players who have been in the program for four years have bought into the team-first concept and are promoting it.
“There’s a very positive feel within the team where everyone plays hard for the person next to them,” MC coach Trevor Brady said. “Not only are these seniors stellar teammates, but their play on the field is very high as well.”
The Pumas have a lot of contention of that top spot and as of Jan. 13, four teams were within a point of first place. Montgomery, Windsor, and Piner will provide a lot of competition for the league crown, but at 6-1-2 overall, it’s safe to say that MC is not going anywhere.
Lepe is the X-factor, if Maria Carrillo has one. The senior striker has a motor that keeps other teams on their toes and he works as hard in practice as he does in the games. If there ever was an indicator, Lepe was out for the first few games and they struggled to generate goals. Since his return, the Pumas have scored six goals or more three times.
Tri-City Athletic League
This league typically belongs to Richmond, and for good reason. The Oilers are a strong team every season. But St. Mary’s should be getting the same respect. The Panthers have given Richmond all they can handle in recent years and have almost evened the balance of power. They are always a tough, hard-working group under head coach Chavo Espinoza.
“The team works very hard together and they hold themselves to a very high standard,” Espinoza said. “This is especially true when it comes to ball movement on offense.”
That is a hallmark of St. Mary’s teams, and Arjun Lyall is the X-factor that makes that happen. The junior attacking midfielder is operating in peak form right now and has great synergy with the other attacking players.
Vine Valley Athletic League
The VVAL has been dominated by Division I forces Vintage and Napa. In fact, heading into this season, Casa Grande had never beat either of those teams. However, with a recent 1-0 win over Napa, the Gauchos are looking to keep rewriting history and claim their first-ever league title.
At the time of this story, Casa was unbeaten in league play, and just behind Vintage in points due to games played. Simply put, the Gauchos are in the mix and looking to stay there.
With that being said, the Gauchos focus was not on the league and remains on winning games within their division, getting into the NCS playoffs with a good seed, and making a run for a section title.
And for Casa Grande, there is no single X-factor, but several players who stand out, including the four senior captains in Nico Rahman, Yahir De Leon, Alexis Garcia, and Mason Holbrook.
“What makes us special this year is that we don’t rely on one X-factor player,” Casa Grande coach Jordan Schlau said. “Ultimately, our entire roster plays a role. We are fortunate to have a lot of depth on our roster.”
West Alameda County Conference – Foothill League
Mt. Eden has raced off to a fast start in league, and as of this article, was just a point behind Berkeley with a game in hand. The Monarchs are often an overlooked bunch, but should not only be taken seriously in the WACC race but also in the Division II playoff picture. They have not lost a DII match, and have gone toe-to-toe with two EBAL teams and with Acalanes.
“We have a solid squad all-around,” Mt. Eden coach Jonas Alvarez said. “We can maintain possession fairly well and transition well on the attack. One of our highlights is our ability to counter attack with our strikers, wingers, and our attacking mids.”
Mt. Eden always has talented, talented players. They are never at a shortage for quick, smart, and passionate players. However, there is a mental hurdle when it comes to playing big bad Berkeley, or the private school in the league, Bishop O’Dowd.
“I believe our biggest speed bumps will be against Berkeley and Bishop O’Dowd,” Alvarez said. “Not because our players are incapable, but because it seems that our school culture believes that we cannot win against big schools.”
In short, Alvarez is saying there is a psychological factor to winning these big matches and the Monarchs need to believe they can win them.
The X-factor for Mt. Eden is Gilberto Rivera, the senior striker. He is very good technically and is able to take on multiple defenders. He has great perception of the goal and often places the ball in the right spot. Rivera recently scored the game-winning goal in the final minutes against crosstown rival Hayward when Mt. Eden was playing with 10 men.
West Alameda County Conference – Shoreline League
The WACC Foothill may be dominated by Berkeley, but the Shoreline seems to have a new champ every year. San Lorenzo has been in that seat before or in the mix many times, and this year, despite one point in their first five league matches, the Rebels could make a push. They picked up a win against Arroyo in a cross-conference match, and are back in the mix. And in their defense, they had to play Mt. Eden, Castro Valley, and Berkeley within those first five league matches. Those three teams are all in higher divisions and annual contenders.
Winning matches is going to be less about trying to outscore opponents and more about keeping opponents from scoring. Which has not always been the case at SLZ.
“We have a very solid back line overall,” San Lorenzo coach Diego Cortez said. “We have a good goalie and two center backs just got healthy. My wingers and strikers are really quick and can do some harm on the counter attack.”
Look out for senior Manuel Munoz. The team’s captain and center back, he starts the attack from the back and keeps his teammates organized throughout the game.