CA – SCVAL Boys Soccer: Mountain View #35 in CA at Santa Clara

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 1st place Mountain View Spartans (4-1-1) and (8-1-3) overall came in as the 35th ranked team in CA. &nbsp; They went up against a focused and determined Santa Clara Bruins team looking to pull off the upset.&nbsp; This was a fast paced game with a lot of ball movement featuring many top level club players.&nbsp; The majority play for MVLA Soccer Club, one of the top programs in the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior Bruins Striker Santiago Martinez scored midway in the first half on an impressive dipping shot just over the goalkeeper's hands which fell right below the crossbar.&nbsp; This was one of the best goal's I've seen thus far.&nbsp; In the second half, Mountain View turned up its attack and kept making impressive connecting passes and runs in the attacking third.&nbsp; The Bruins sophomore GK Quincy Chun made multiple impressive stops, but as the game headed to the last 10 minutes of regulation time the Spartans got the equalizing goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior forward Javier Teeter scored on a heads up play as the defender made a stop in the penalty box and Teeter won back the ball and slid it past the hands of the keeper.&nbsp; During what seemed to be an extended stoppage time, Patrick McGuirk scored a spectacular goal off a set piece as he headed the ball backwards just over the keeper's hands while he went up for the challenge.&nbsp; A third goal was added to secure Mountain View's 1st place standing in the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up for HC John Nunes and the Bruins is to get back on the winning side and possibly aim for a shot at making an at-large bid at the CCS (Central Coast Section) as his team proved they can compete with the top teams in their division.&nbsp; HC Jim McGuirk is looking at finishing the season strong and to come out on top during the second round of play.</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":277902,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Parker Lunn","_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":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mountain View High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"MVLA 07 ECNL","_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-6797202a27f75"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The MVLA goalkeeper stood tall and shut down all but on goal.&nbsp; He showed his range by going up high to crosses and by making critical saves down the stretch.&nbsp; He anticipated runs towards the box and played relatively high.&nbsp; His strengths are in pushing up as a defender to start counter attacks.&nbsp; Parker was also the vocal leader on defense and placed players into positions to mark attackers and close down lanes.&nbsp; One of his impressive attributes was his set kick to restart play.&nbsp; On a couple of occasions he was able to reach the opponents 30 yard marker.&nbsp; He was definitely a big part in their 8 of 12 shutout matches and he is probably the best goalkeeper in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["8401"],"_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":277903,"_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-6797202a27ff1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Distributed the ball well and helped his offense make a push in the second half.&nbsp; He anticipated attackers running and passing lanes and pushed them out to the channels.&nbsp; On the attacking side, he made a few connecting passes to get players in scoring position.&nbsp; His one and two touch combinations made it difficult for defenders to regain possession. He and the other center mid played a tandem style which solidified their defense, while he pushed up on the offensive side.</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":277904,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Aiden Wong","_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":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mountain View","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='278033' first='MVLA' last='ECNL']","_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-6797202a2807a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He was able to break up attacks on defense and utilized his size to win 50/50 challenges.&nbsp; He helped solidify the center of the pitch and closed down passing lanes and opponents trying to make passing connections in the attacking third.&nbsp; He made quick transitional passes to move the offense into scoring range and calculated attacking players trying to slip through the defense with overlapping or diagonal runs.</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":277905,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Patrick McGuirk","_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":"Mountain View High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"MVLA 07B NPL","_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-6797202a280ff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Patrick had a really good game, both on defense and on offensive set plays.&nbsp; The center back shut down many attacking runs in the half-space and near the 18-yard box.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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> <!-- /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":277906,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Quincy Chun","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Santa Clara High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Santa Clara Lions 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-6797202a28180"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He demonstrated his shot-stopping skills by going up high, punching out 50/50 balls and by cutting off scoring lanes.&nbsp; His most impressive play showed his quick reflexes and athleticism to make a vertical diving save.&nbsp; It was clearly worthy of a SC highlight reel.&nbsp; He was also good at defending the penalty box during crosses.&nbsp; He calculated his challenges and didn't hesitate to take on the attacker in 1 v 1 situtions.&nbsp; I look forward to evaluating him in club competitions as he has top-level skills, while being relatively unknown up to this point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1882981198219337730">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1882981198219337730</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1883018982602797455">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1883018982602797455</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1883020841082134910">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1883020841082134910</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1883024215651332146">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1883024215651332146</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1884743725777400002">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1884743725777400002</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 -->