Top 5 Goals – Boys High School Season 2024-2025 – Part 3

<p><strong>USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription</strong></p>   <p>Here's Part 3 of my Top 5 Goals. In my first year as a Prep Soccer Scout and writer, I was able to capture some sensational goals during the high school season. Here are my top 5 goals for the Boys NorCal season, starting from the beginning of the season and moving on down towards the end of league competition. Highlights in this article are also from teams making their run to a playoff spot in section competition. Future parts will be in the NorCal Tournament (essentially equivalent to a state championship). I want to give thanks to all the high school athletic directors and coaches for having me feature their teams and players. Many of the goals are from top-level players on really good teams.</p>   <p>In this episode, it was another Epic matchup between the two heavyweights in the D1 West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL).  This was the second time these teams met in league play.  The Bellarmine Bells won the first round match in Archbishop Mitty's stadium by a score of 3-1.  The Mitty Monarchs looked to even the score on the Bells home turf during Senior Night.  The Monarchs came into this game as the 118th ranked team in CA and a 3rd place standing of (6-3-4).   The Bells were the 21st ranked team in CA and held the 1st place standing of (11-0-2). </p>   <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/1892399701783400720 </div></figure>   <p>Goal #1 - #12 Dylan DeGuzman scores Mitty's first goal in the final 14 minutes of the 2nd half.  He received the ball at the edge of the 18-yard box, then pulled it to his left and fired a left footed shot across to the far post.  It was a sweet goal.</p>   <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/1892448724930142396 </div></figure>   <p>Goal #2 - Mitty's second goal started from the back when GK Lars Neunfinger punted the ball to near midfield and it skipped once before another player flicked it past a defender.  #9 Jonah Guardino got past the defender and sent it to the far left post.  It was quick and efficient.</p>   <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/1892458570962157995 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Made some key shot-stopping saves. His ability to get low and make diving saves is somewhat impressive for a person his size. He stood tall in the box and made some booming punts from the back. Most of his punts hit near the 40-yard line on the opposite field. One of his most impressive plays was his punt from the back, which skipped once before another teammate flicked it past a defender. Jonah Guardino ran past the last defender and sent the ball to the far left post as the goalkeeper came out to cut off his angle.</p>    <p>In this series of goals, it was a nice night for a quarterfinals match in Mountain View, CA. The Archbishop Mitty Monarchs came into this playoff match as the number 7 seed, with an overall record of (11-3-6). I've covered a previous match in which they beat the Bellarmine Bell, the 21st ranked team in CA at that time. Both teams were locked in, but the Monarchs prevailed 2-1 in a very close match.  In this match, they would have to beat the 29th team in CA, the Mountain View Spartans to get to the semifinals.</p>   <p>The match featured top level club players from the Bay Area.  Players represented teams from MVLA, [program_tooltip program_id='283466' first='Santa' last='Clara Sporting'], and <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/program/de-anza-force/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='283641' first='De' last='Anza Force']</strong></a> .  The standouts for this match were definitely the two towering goalkeepers.  The game ended in regulation time with a score of (0-0), due to both goalkeepers' shot-stopping abilities.  Spartans goalkeeper Parker Lunn, at 6'2” made some crucial saves to keep his team in the match.  The one that sticks out the most, was a point-blank stop at the end of regulation.  Had the shot gone in, the Monarchs would have extended their lead by 2 goals.  Lunn came off of his line and cut off the angle of running Monarch and stopped the shot at a critical stage in the match.</p>   <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/1893533398939103273 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Made some crucial saves to keep his team in the match.  The one that sticks out the most, was a point-blank stop at the end of regulation.  Had the shot gone in, the Monarchs would have extended their lead by 2 goals.  Lunn came off of his line and cut off the angle of running Monarch and stopped the shot at a critical stage in the match.  He showed his range by going up high to crosses and by making critical saves down the stretch.  He anticipated runs towards the box and played relatively high.  His strengths are in pushing up as a defender to start counter attacks.  Parker was also the vocal leader on defense and placed players into positions to mark attackers and close down lanes.  One of his impressive attributes was his set kick to restart play.  On a couple of occasions he was able to reach the opponents 30 yard marker.</p>    <p>Intense ball game - Mitty at Mountain View</p>   <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/1893523043458121899 </div></figure>   <p>Goal #3 - Mitty's #17 Isaac Castillo places the ball at the top left corner for the go ahead goal in the 4th minute of overtime half number 1.</p>   <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/1893531146018811959 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Scored off a corner kick which was “dummied” and he one-touched it to the top left hand corner, while leaving the goalkeeper and Spartans crowd stunned.  It was just a perfectly placed shot, which was nearly impossible to stop.  He didn't back down and challenged for loose ball possession. He was able to contain attackers during 1v1s and waited for support. Overall, he made good decisions when facing runners in the channels. He stood them up and cut off angled runs in the box. He also made some quality runs in the attacking third. He plays club soccer for [program_tooltip program_id='283466' first='Santa' last='Clara Sporting'].</p>    <p>Just as it seemed as if Mitty punched their ticket to the semis, Mountain View's Patrick McQuirk scores off of a throw-in, which was touched by another MV player and it hopped up once before McQuirk volleyed the ball past the goalkeeper's hands in the final minute of overtime half number two.  The crowd went wild and that took us to the penalty shootout as overtime ended in a 1-1 goal score.  No one really likes to lose in a shootout, but for the winners, it is something they'll never forget.</p>   <p>Goal #4 - Patrick McQuirk scores the equalizer for Mountain View.  We are going to a shootout!</p>   <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/1893537645147419030 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Scored off of a throw-in, which was touched by another MV player and it hopped up once before he volleyed the ball past the goalkeeper's hands in the final minute of overtime half number two.  The crowd went wild and that took us to the penalty shootout as overtime ended in a 1-1 goal score. Patrick had a really good game, both on defense and on offensive set plays.  The center back shut down many attacking runs in the half-space and near the 18-yard box.  He is a smart player who positions himself to cut off angled runs and he is not afraid to take on players in one on one challenges.  He communicated well with the other CB and at times he played a sweeper role in preventing the opposing striker from taking quality shots on goal.  His impressive play during the match was on a set piece in which he went up high to give his team the go-ahead goal.</p>    <p>Goal #5 - Bonus Coverage - After the first two rounds of the shootout - Mountain View 1 and Mitty 1.</p>   <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/1893555487091892294 </div></figure>   <p>Bonus Coverage #2 - Mountain View advances to the CCS Division 1 Semifinals by winning the Penalty Shootout 3-1.</p>   <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/1893557331759374425 </div></figure>   <p>This was one of the most entertaining matches I've covered or even viewed as a player, coach, or fan. Both teams played their hearts out and the MV sharpshooters made the difference in this match. Next up for HC Cesar Sanchez is to reflect on a season which had many highs. His players should be proud of their accomplishments. As for HC Jim McGuirk, they will be competing in a semifinal match against a dominating (Everett Alvarez) 18-0-2 overall team, with the 33rd ranking in CA. The Everett Alvarez Eagles eventually won the CCS Division 1 Championship as well as the NorCal Division 1 Championship. Part 4 of this series will include goals from both tournaments.</p>   <p><strong>If you are interested in signing up with Prep Soccer, USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription.</strong></p>   <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/1901345676673610217 </div></figure>

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