CA – BVAL Boys Soccer: Branham at 1st Place Westmont

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Night games for the Central Coast Section (CSS) provide opportunities for parents and fans to cheer on their teams.&nbsp; The matchup between the Branham Bruins at the league leading Westmont Warriors, #60 in CA showcased high level soccer skills by some top level club players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game elevated quickly as senior forward Spencer Hoang scored within the first two minutes of the game.&nbsp; Both teams seemed to play with the same intensity and pace for the remaining first half.&nbsp; Westmont, led by HC Matt Schembri made some adjustments during the half which ignited a second half surge on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior Sebastien Aranda scored the second Warriors goal by executing a lovely pull back separation to shake off the defender and curving a shot around the defense that was just outside the reach of the GK.&nbsp; Senior center-mid Kota Brown scored on a slashing run which was one of the best combinations of 4-5 players getting a touch before he sent it home.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins, led by HC Danny Kadah also had a few standouts on his side.&nbsp; Junior CB Brayden Hodges, Sophomore LB [player_tooltip player_id='6950' first='Aki' last='Iwashita'], and Midfielder Toma Li showed poise and displayed technical skills with the ball.&nbsp; Next up for Branham is to get back on the winning side during the second round of league play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be a battle to get to the #1 spot for the Westmont Warriors, but I believe this team is starting to peak and I can't wait to cover one of their playoff matches as the top 3 teams in the Mt. Hamilton division gets an automatic bid to the CCS Playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":277810,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sebastien Aranda","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westmont High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='278033' first='MVLA' last='ECNL'] U19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6795ba0046e71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the most technically skilled players at his age group.&nbsp; Aranda has a smooth first touch, quick ball release, accurate passing, and great vision for the game.&nbsp; Although he played the left wing position, most passes were set up from his side and he consistently took on his defender and made precise passes up the field and through the lanes.&nbsp; He had a great curving goal and he also was part of the 3rd goal combination.&nbsp; Sebastien is looking at possibly playing D1 soccer or he might get signed when he competes overseas in Europe during the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":277811,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kota Brown","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westmont High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Los Gatos United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6795ba0046f09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Played primarily as a center-mid, but pushed up at times as a forward.&nbsp; He used his size and athleticism to his advantage when attacking the box.&nbsp; He is a smart player who anticipates where his teammates and opponents are and makes quick and decisive passes.&nbsp; Whenever he pushed the attack, opposing players tried to break his possession.&nbsp; One of his strengths was to do one-two passes with other players to create space or make runs at the goal.&nbsp; Brown had an awesome goal as he scored his team's 3rd goal in which 4 different players had touches before he scored on a beautiful angled run into the penalty area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":277812,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Spencer Hoang","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westmont High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Los Gatos United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6795ba0046f86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spencer scored an exciting opening goal in the first 2 minutes of the match.&nbsp; He contributed to the fast pace of the Westmont attack and he helped create openings in the attacking third with quick diagonal runs.&nbsp; His passing skills allowed multiple connections and he was one of the players contributing to their last goal which displayed maximum team effort on offense.&nbsp; Spencer is also a multi-sport athlete as he is a member of the Warriors football team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":277816,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Toma Li","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Branham High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Almaden FC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6795c83c58d43"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Plays with good positioning.&nbsp; He displayed quick decisions while under pressure, by starting combination plays to players in the channels and making some defensive stops on their side of the field.&nbsp; Toma was tasked at disrupting the Warriors attack and held the middle as their strong point.&nbsp; He forced his opponents to attack from the sides and marked key players in their 18-yard box.&nbsp; Really good technical passing skills as his strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["6950"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":277817,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6795c83c58dbc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Has a good understanding of what's happening around him.&nbsp; He tracked forwards and made some stops as they tried to get past him up the line.&nbsp; He used his quickness to recover mistakes and chased down attackers on the flank.&nbsp; Aki stopped a few shot attempts in the box by anticipating which foot and side his opponent would take.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":277818,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brayden Hodges","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Branham High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6795c83c58e45"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Strong presence in the back line.&nbsp; He had some strong defensive stops by cutting down attacking angles and communicating with his team on which lanes to cover.&nbsp; Brayden made a few critical stops during 1 v 1 attacks.&nbsp; He won 50/50 aerial attacks by positioning himself in the right spots and by using his athletic frame.&nbsp; Strength, agility, and good anticipation are his main qualities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1882294774327357873","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1882294774327357873 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1882284012091421118">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1882284012091421118</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1892981725791179019","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1892981725791179019 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->