East Bay Athletic League 2022 Mountain Division Boys Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two new teams appear in the East Bay Athletic League's Mountain Division, as Dublin and Livermore earned promotion from the Valley Division for finishing in the top two spots a season ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The EBAL is the top league in the North Coast Section, one of the toughest in Northern California, and this year we will see new challengers try to take the top spot away from defending champion De La Salle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>California</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a reason that the Grizzlies pushed DLS for much of the season in the race for the league title, and that was because they had 18 seniors. Keeper Javier Mena will try to fill the shoes of graduated all-league player Nicky McCune while Jared Koo, a player who can play all over, will be a vital part of the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>De La Salle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The De La Salle Spartans were an incredible story last year. Starting 2-5, it had many wondering if the program was in for a down season. But they went on to win 14 out of 16 to close the regular season (one draw, and one non-league loss on a Saturday) on their way to a North Coast Division I title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, expect the Spartans to be right back in that mix, and in the mix for a NorCal State title. They play a very, very tough schedule early on as usual, but this team is poised to be tough all year long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We return a few players that played major roles last season and a few who are ready to step into major roles," De La Salle coach Derricke Brown said. "This group worked extremely hard in the weight room during the off-season, that signal of intent is usually very positive. But, we do have very difficult schedule again this year."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle returns two captains in seniors Cooper Kennedy and Lucas Pfister. Kennedy is a dynamic forward who has a nose for goal, while Pfister is a hard-nosed defender with technical ability that can help the team build out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where the Spartans will also be able to make trouble for teams is in the midfield. They have two very good and key seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='6874' first='Aaron' last='Gomez'] and Leo Bravo. Both play centrally and both are assertive players who want the ball at their feet and know where to go with it once they have it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dublin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dublin was recently promoted and they are a young and inexperienced team, but the Gaels program is a winning one so this means there will be opportunity for talented players to make an impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We are going to be young as well as inexperienced at the varsity level," Dublin coach John Morrison said. "We are excited to see who will try to fill our leadership void left from the seniors who graduated last season as well as to see who will rise to their potential on the field."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jayden Nguyen returns and was one of two juniors (along with DLS's Pfister) to make the all-EBAL first team as a junior. Nguyen is a very good center back and a leader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nguyen is joined by the captain, Connor McGinley, in the back. McGinley was honorable mention all-EBAL as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason Wittenberg, who can play defender or forward, Jaden Savellano, who can play midfield or defender, Yasir Sharifi, a midfielder, and Ian McCorriston, a defender and forward, are key returning players and newcomers that will be looking to step into larger roles for the Gaels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Livermore</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cowboys were a little of a surprise team last year. They finished second in the Valley, earned promotion and are hoping to be challengers. They will be led by the defense, specifically by junior Jack Lingle, who was an honorable mention selection in the EBAL as a sophomore. The Cowboys lost some key seniors, allowing an opportunity for others to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monte Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs were shot out of a cannon last year, starting the season with 10 straight wins and did not lose until their 16th match. They wound up third in the toughest league in NCS. They boast the league's top returning keeper in Luke Hedden, now a senior, who was second-team all-league last year. Hedden is one of nine juniors who were on the roster last year (along with two sophomore) so the Mustangs should be able to withstand losing 15 standout seniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->