Diablo Athletic League Valley preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Diablo Athletic League's Valley division should be a close race on the boys side as defending champion Miramonte was moved to the Foothill division. There were three teams after Miramonte all within four points of one another last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the girls side, Acalanes and Las Lomas left for the Foothill and it opens up the race for the other teams as those two teams were dominant. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's explore the boys side first.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BOYS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":67880,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/12/Angel-Gonzalez-Diaz.jpg?w=605" alt="" class="wp-image-67880" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Diablo Valley Wolves</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concord should be considered the favorite as they return two of the best players in the league. Also, the Minutemen only lost three matches last year. They lost eight key seniors, but the combination of a top defender and top midfielder should be enough to make them the team to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Angel Gonzalez-Diaz, Senior, Defender</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diaz is a four-year varsity player and is top notch defender. He will be a captain for Concord and as important as he will be as a physical defender, he will be just as important as a teacher and mentor for the younger players. Gonzalez-Diaz is also a 4.0 student. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daniel Guerra, Senior, Midfielder</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guerra can play anywhere in the midfield, playing the No. 6, 8 or 10. He will be another team captain. He has dynamic control of the ball and his vision on the pitch is superb. He is a 3.6 student. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benicia return two key seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='8376' first='Nicholas' last='Ruiz'] and Cameron Finch, while Berean Christian also brings back two key seniors in Sam Jauregui and Brandon Sharp. Mt. Diablo is always a talented team, but seem to lack experience most years and they have two young players that could be difference makers in junior Jared Gallegos and sophomore Diego Romo. For Alhambra, watch out for senior Santiago Hernandez and junior Daniel Polasek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GIRLS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alyssa Pringle is a top returning player in the DAL Valley as the Berean Christian senior is one of two returning first-team all-league players. The other is junior Daniela Osejo for Benicia. Berean Christian also returns key sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='20224' first='Sophia' last='Gonzalez'] and Benicia returns two key seniors in Brianna Munoz and Elizabeth Loforte as well as sophomore Tess Manning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those two teams should be considered contenders for the league title as should Miramonte, which moved from the Foothill to the Valley. The Mats will return three key players in senior Tahra Minowada, senior Jada Deitrick and sophomore Katrina White.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concord could also be a player for the league title bringing back a stud in senior Jackie Tamayo along with fellow senior Sofia Lopez Real and sophomore Hannah Morrell. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->