Clayton Valley seeking to climb the mountain top

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Positivity. Karma. Unity. These words are all a part of the Clayton Valley Charter High School boys soccer team's creed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The players have bought into the idea that a team needs to be unified. They have bought into the concept that you pay forward what is paid forward to you. They have bought into the notion that if you believe it, you can make it happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"The guys on this team follow our creed and our traditions," Clayton Valley coach Guillermo Jara said. "We believe in camaraderie, a strong belief in ourselves and we have a strong aura around ourselves."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jara took over a program that was just starting to build itself into a competitor back in the season of 2013/14. Since then he has compiled an incredible record of 122-43-27, for an outstanding winning percentage of .635, while only losing roughly one match out of every five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has won league titles and playoff games, has had some monumental wins over some historic programs. But there is one thing that has avoided him during this amazing 10-season run, and that is a North Coast Section championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ugly Eagles, as their soccer team is nicknamed, have reached the semifinals twice, and reached the quarterfinals a number of times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This, however, could be the team that finally ascends that oh-so hard to reach mountain top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We've got some grit and we have something special here this year," Jara said. "The team is like best friends, and they fight until the end. They know we've been so close in the past and they want to be the group that brings home the championship. It's a special group."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The roster is very good from top to bottom, but there are seven players in particular that will need to play huge roles if they are going to join the pantheon of teams like De La Salle, Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Braginsky, Senior, Forward</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braginsky isn't the biggest attacking player in the world, but he will pester a defense until he gets his goal. Which is often. He has the ability to roam as he plays the false nine, so you will see him as a striker, or sometimes sitting back in the attacking midfield. He's a guy that finishes well once he gets into the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chase Caldwell, Senior, Holding Midfielder</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caldwell is the team's No. 6 and does what you want your holding mid to do. He is the general in the midfield. He shuts it down in the defensive midfield, he is the link between the defenders and the attack. If he's defending, he shuts opponents down. When it's time to get going, he can link up play as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Caranza, Junior, Central Defender</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clayton Valley has two great center backs and Caranza is the speedy one that tracks down attacking players and covers the other center back when he gives his body up. He can clean up the back line and he can also get the ball forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>David Gallegos, Junior, Keeper</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gallegos is not your prototypical keeper when it comes to size, but he is someone who plays big. He stops shots with the best of them, he reads the game very, very well and that allows him to anticipate and position himself well to where he can cut off angles and give himself the best chance to make a big save.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"center","id":77715,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/01/IMG_2538-copy-crop-3024x1986-1672884766.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-77715" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Guillermo Jara</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marco Jara, Senior, Central Midfielder</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jara's name should sound familiar, because he is the son of the head coach. He is an extension of his father as he is the emotional leader on the pitch. He is the heart and soul of this team. He digs deep when needed, he stays positive and motives the team. He is a complete midfielder who can control the game offensively and defensively. He can use both feet with ease and grace, he has great vision, he's very cerebral and he can find the gaps in a defense and pick a pass as well as any midfielder in Northern California. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skye Megyesi, Senior, Outside Defender</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Megyesi is everything you could possibly want in an outside back. He is a dynamic right-footed right back. He can move with speed up the touch line, or he can shut down the flanks on defense. He is very hard to get past 1v1 and he really has a lot of grit and desire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nolan Martin, Senior, Central Defender</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin and Caranza are the pairing in the back and Martin is your prototypical center back. He's big, he's strong, he's physical. He loves to challenge balls in the air and is a ball-winner. He plays with all his heart and is willing to sacrifice his body for the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->