SPORTS

Rai, Farsai fuel Chargers past Overfelt 62-52

Leland guard Nav Deep Rai drops in 17 second-half points
in win; David Farsai chips in 18 for the game

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

After seeing their 13-point lead cut to 1 in just five minutes, the Leland Chargers bounced back with a solid effort in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter, securing a 62-52 win against Overfelt on Jan. 17.

Leland’s Nav Deep Rai, shown here in a game earlier this season, played a crucial role in his team’s 62-52 win over Overfelt on Jan. 17. Rai scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. Photo courtesy www.mikejanes.com

Aided by a solid second-half effort from Nav Deep Rai, the Chargers bounced back in the fourth quarter, putting together a 13-4 stretch following Overfelt’s run, regaining a sizable lead and walking away with the win. Rai provided ample offensive support, dropping in a game-high 21 points, including 17 in the second half. Leland guard David Farsai also chipped in 18 points in the win.

“He’s playing with a lot of energy right now, which is nice,” Leland Head Coach Dave Frandsen said of Rai. “Last year at this time, he started to evaporate a little bit due to finals, stress and things of that nature. This year he’s playing a lot stronger.”

The Chargers, 5-10 overall and 3-2 in Santa Teresa Division play following the win over the Royals, had a comfortable 41-28 lead with less than two minutes left in the third quarter before Overfelt embarked on a 14-2 run that continued for more than two minutes into the fourth quarter.

The Overfelt scoring run cut the Chargers’ lead to 43-42 with 5:46 left in the fourth quarter, leaving Leland in a similar predicament seen throughout this season, said Frandsen.

“If we hit our free throws and converted when we made some good defensive stops in the first half, it wouldn’t have been as close as it was,” said Frandsen. “In the second half, our season-long mental breakdowns and turnovers caused the game to get a little bit closer than it should’ve been.”

Following the Royals’ run, the Chargers managed to bounce back quickly with some deft outside shooting, getting a 3-pointer from point guard Mike Higashioka at 5:24 to get the scoring stretch started.

Rai followed Higashioka’s 3-pointer with a layup and a foul shot, completing a 3-point play at 4:44, bumping Leland’s lead back up to seven at 49-42.

After a pair of free throws and a layup by Overfelt once again cut the lead, this time to three, the Chargers managed to finally put some distance in the score, getting back-to-back 3-pointers from Rai and Farsai in a 34-second span.

Frandsen said the one-two punch of Rai and Farsai on offense was a welcomed sight for the Chargers. Despite those efforts, Frandsen said his team still needs additional offensive help from other players on the squad.

“I would hope that we’d get a couple of other guys to step up and score a little bit more, but we have to balance what we have with those two guys,” Frandsen said. “We need to get someone else contributing 8-10 points per game also, and spread it out a little more. People will start jumping on those two guys (Rai and Farsai).”

With Overfelt in foul trouble, the Chargers managed to get to the free-throw line six times in the final 2:17 of the fourth, hitting seven out of 12 shots and maintaining their lead. Rai and Farsai also played a role in the free-throw barrage at the end of the game, hitting a combined four of eight shots from the line to help their squad hold on to the lead.

Sports Briefs

Almaden Venom BU-10 holds soccer tryouts
The AVYSL Venom, a U-10 Boys Class 3 soccer team, will hold tryouts for boys born on or between 8/1/96 and 7/31/97 at Almaden Elementary School on Jan. 29 from 1-3:30 p.m. Please check in at least 15 minutes early and be prepared to show a copy of the player’s birth certificate. For more information, contact coach Dave Ballard at dballard@ ipass.com or (408) 268-1305.

Los Gatos Christian Church Youth Baseball League registration runs through Feb. 6
The Los Gatos Christian Church-sponsored Youth Baseball League is currently accepting registration for the upcoming season through Feb. 6. The season runs from April 1 through June 10 and is open to both boys and girls. Girls must be born between the dates of 8/1/97 to 7/31/01, while boys must be born between 8/1/95 to 7/31/97. For registration information, call the sports office at (408) 997-4642.

Almaden Valley Strikers U-11 holds soccer tryouts
Almaden Valley Strikers, a Boys’ Under-11 Class 3 soccer team in the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League, is holding tryouts for players born between Aug. 1, 1995 and July 31, 1996. Tryouts will be held Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Almaden Elementary School. Call Lela Huenergardt at 408-997-8903 for more details.

Almaden Valley Storm Class 1, U-11 holds soccer tryouts
Almaden Valley Storm, a Boys’ Under-11 Class 1 soccer team in the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League, is holding tryouts for players born between Aug. 1, 1995 and July 31 1996. Tryouts will be held Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon, and Feb 5 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Castillero Middle School. Call Mike Reickerd at (408) 268-7576 for more details.

Almaden Girls U9 comp. soccer tryouts
An AVYSL girls soccer team is looking for players. Players should be born between Aug. 1, 1997 and July 31, 1998. This is a competitive Class-3 team. The team is coached by Lisa Scudero, who is a longtime soccer player and successful coach in Almaden. The tryouts will be held on Jan. 29 and Feb. 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Almaden Elementary School. If interested, call Lisa Scudero at (408) 268-8620.

Almaden X-treme soccer players needed
Almaden X-treme soccer team, a Girls U-15 Class 1 team, is looking for players. The team took second place in league last year and is looking for players in all positions. Birth dates need to be Aug. 1, 1991 through July 31, 1992. If interested, contact Bob Spaletta 371-8687 or taxhound@aol.com.

San Jose Strikkers softball seeks pitchers, infielders
The San Jose Strikkers, an 18-U Girls fast-pitch softball traveling team, is looking for pitchers and infielders to add to the team. Tryouts are by appointment only. For more information, call Frank King at (408) 406-8191 or Richard Fangonilo at (408) 274-9301. Frank King can also be reached via e-mail at fgking25@aol.com, while Richard Fangonilo can be reached at rfangonilo@sjm.com.

For more information on the Strikkers, go to http://www.eteamz.com/sanjosestrikkers18u.

Almaden Valley Red Devils hold soccer tryouts
The Almaden Valley Red Devils, a new Boys’ Under-13 Class 3 soccer team in the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League, is holding tryouts for players born between Aug. 1, 1993 and July 31 1994. Tryouts will be held Saturday Jan 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday Feb 3, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday, Feb 11 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.  For more information, call David Silva at (408) 316-8760.

U-16 girls’ holds soccer tryouts
A U-16 girls’ Almaden Valley League Comp/Class 3 team that plays in both spring and fall is holding tryouts for interested players Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 18 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Steinbeck Middle School.

For more information, call Scott Hoyt at (408) 323-7803.

Almaden Celtic BU-9 Comp (Class 3) holds soccer tryouts
The Almaden Celtic BU-9 Comp Class 3 soccer team will hold tryouts for boys born on or between 8/1/97 and 7/31/98 at Almaden Elementary School on Feb. 4 from 1-4 p.m. and Feb. 12 from 1-4 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.  For more information, contact Mike Hackett at jmh94@pacbell.net or (408) 997-2004.

Pepsi Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Competition provides opportunity to compete at a Major
League ballpark
This spring, youngsters ages 7-14 will have the opportunity to showcase three fundamental baseball skills—pitching, hitting and running—for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete on-field at the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Pepsi Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run (PHR) is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball.

This free grassroots program is in its 10th year of existence and is designed to provide youth across North America with an integrated competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball skills. Children compete in four age groups: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including the local, sectional, team championship and national finals.

Once advancing to the MLB Team Championship, participants will compete at a Major League ballpark. From there, the top four competitors nationwide from each of the four age groups will win a trip to the national finals to compete for the national championship during All-Star Week in Pittsburgh, Pa.

PHR is a great way for youth organizations nationwide to put their town on the map and allow children in their community the opportunity to compete at a Major League ballpark. Organizations interested in hosting a local competition may visit www.mlb.com/phr or call (770) 641-7415

High School Scoreboard

Jan. 17
Leland girls’ soccer 1-0 win at Branham

Pioneer girls’ soccer 7-0 win vs. Overfelt

Jan. 18
Pioneer boys’ basketball 63-58 loss vs. Piedmont Hills
Pioneer girls’ basketball 64-55 loss at Piedmont Hills

Jan. 19
Leland girls’ soccer 3-0 win vs. Overfelt

Pioneer wrestling 53-12 win at San Jose High

Jan. 20
Leland boys’ basketball 52-51 win at Gunderson
Leland boys’ soccer 3-0 win vs. Independence

High School Sports Schedule

Leland High School
Friday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Evergreen, 7:30 p.m.
Friday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball at Evergreen, 6 p.m.
Friday – Varsity boys’ soccer vs. Leigh, 3:15 p.m.

Tuesday – Wrestling vs. Pioneer, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Andrew Hill, 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball at Andrew Hill, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity girls’ soccer vs. Pioneer, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – JV girls’ soccer vs. Pioneer, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday – Varsity girls’ basketball vs. Oak Grove, 7 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ basketball vs. Oak Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity boys’ soccer vs. Overfelt, 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer vs. Overfelt, 3:15 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Friday – Varsity boys’ soccer at Mt. Pleasant, 3:15 p.m.
Friday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer at Mt. Pleasant, 3:15 p.m.
Friday – Varsity girls’ basketball at Oak Grove, 7 p.m.
Friday – JV girls’ basketball at Oak Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Friday – Varsity boys’ basketball vs. Oak Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Friday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball vs. Oak Grove, 6 p.m.

Tuesday – Wrestling at Leland, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity girls’ soccer at Leland, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – JV girls’ soccer at Leland, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.
Wednesday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball at Santa Teresa, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ basketball vs. Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ basketball vs. Santa Teresa, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity boys’ soccer vs. Independence, 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer vs. Independence, 3:15 p.m.

Thursday – Varsity girls’ soccer vs. Leigh, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – JV girls’ soccer vs. Leigh, 3:15 p.m.


For more information about Leland and Pioneer sporting events, go to:

Pioneer Athletics:
www.phsathletics.com

Leland Athletics:
www.lelandathletics.com

Blossom Valley Athletic League:
www.bval.org

For more complete and up to date schedules on CCS playoffs, go to:
www.cifccs.org

Fight for first place sees Leland girls’ hoops drop 43-30 loss to Leigh

Chargers slip to second place with loss;
Leigh’s Laura McClellan drops in 14 points

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

A long-awaited match-up featuring last season’s Mt. Hamilton Division co-champions didn’t go as planned for the Leland Chargers, who dropped a 43-30 loss to Leigh on the road on Jan. 18.

Both teams shared a first-place tie coming into the game as well, with identical 3-0 records in league play.

“Both are good teams, coached well and well disciplined,” said Leigh Head Coach Gary Fernandes of the match-up. “Tonight it was just our night. It could’ve gone either way, but tonight was our night.”

For Leland, the game hinged on effective outside shooting, said Chargers Head Coach Wade Nakamura, considering Leigh’s dominant inside presence in seniors Laura McClellan, who led all scorers with 14 points, and Stephanie Ruiz, who despite early foul trouble, finished the game with nine points. Both seniors are college-bound basketball players, with McClellan signing a letter of intent to play for the University of Washington, while Ruiz will attend Bethany College in Scotts Valley to play hoops as well.

Leland’s Meggie Yoshioka was Leland’s most consistent scoring threat of the night in a 43-30 loss to Leigh on Jan. 18, scoring 10 points in the loss. Photos by Jeff Frazee

Leland didn’t get the outside shooting it was looking for, shooting only 16 percent from the floor throughout the game. Still, Nakamura said he was pleased to see his squad stay close until the end.

“It’s not really frustrating,” Nakamura said of his team’s effort. “I mean, we were in the game for the whole game …We just need to be able to hit a few shots and tonight, we didn’t do that. I’m not frustrated at all. We have another opportunity to play them (Feb. 10). We can’t really focus on Leigh though, we need to focus on everyone else.”

Things weren’t very close in the early going for the Chargers, who found themselves down quickly by a score of 14-4 at the end of the first quarter. Leland didn’t score until Ana Farrington dropped in one of two free-throw shots with 3:19 left in the first.

Farrington, who finished the game with eight points, was quickly followed by Kristen Yoshioka, who nailed a 3-pointer at 2:56, the only points that night for Leland’s most consistent scoring threat.

After starting out on an 8-0 run to start the game, Leigh finished off the first on a modest 6-0 run. The jumpstart was a welcomed sight to Fernandes, who said early leads are crucial to his team’s success.

“Our game depends on us getting out quick,” Fernandes said of getting the early lead. “It helps our transition game, it helps our defensive side of the game, so getting out as quickly as possible is always better for us.”

The setback for the Chargers continued in the second quarter, which saw the Longhorns take a 24-13 lead at halftime. McClellan was a key player in Leigh’s promising start, dropping in 12 of her game-total 14 points in the first half, including eight points in the first quarter alone.

“It was probably her best overall game of the year so far,” Fernandes said of McClellan. “Both defensively and offensively, and team-wise in moving the ball around, it was definitely her best all-around game.”

After a McClellan layup gave Leigh a 26-13 lead to start the third quarter, the Chargers started to slowly chip away at the Longhorn lead, putting together a 10-4 run in a three-minute span.

The run started with a pair of free throws from point guard Mika Yanai, before Meggie Yoshioka put together a solid offensive effort, sinking a pair of 3-pointers and a layup, cutting the Longhorn lead to 30-23. Meggie Yoshioka led the Chargers with 10 points overall.

“That’s one of our problems that we have to work out as a team right now,” McClellan said of allowing Leland to get back into the game with the 10-4 run. “We come out real strong, and once we get a nice lead, we start to relax. When they come back and we try to get back into it, we’re almost cold. We just have work on playing hard the whole game, no matter what the lead.”

However, the seven-point deficit was as close as the Chargers would get in the loss. An 8-2 run by the Longhorns that stretched into the early portion of the fourth quarter gave the home team a sizable 13-point lead at 38-25.

Meanwhile, the Chargers managed to score just twice in the fourth quarter, getting a layup from Farrington with 5:05 left before Yanai hit a 3-pointer at 3:35.

The Longhorns then finished up the game by reaching the free-throw line four times in the final three minutes of the game, hitting five of eight shots from the line to secure the win.

Despite the loss, Nakamura said he felt confident in his team’s ability to match up against Leigh in the future.

“I think that, as bad as we shot, as bad as we played, the game was within reach,” Nakamura said. “It’s definitely not a shot to our confidence. Our girls are definitely confident. I think they know that we can beat them.”

Tour of California coming Feb. 21-22

Bicycle pros to pedal into downtown, around Coyote Valley

By Karl Laucher
Special to the Times

The city of San Jose, for a few hours on Feb. 21 and 22, will be the focus of the bicycle-racing world.

Cyclists Jackson Stewart, left, and Ben Jacques-Maynes joined Amgen Tour of California Director Bob Collarossi at a race-introduction ceremony recently at the San Jose City Hall rotunda.

This may foist upon the local public a few pleasant realizations: 1) World-class bicycle racing is a world apart from bicycle riding; 2) World-class bicycle racers live virtually anonymously in the greater San Jose area, and 3) Spectators can get more free-wheeling sizzle for their money than in any other professional sport because road racing is free for those who can find their place on the sidelines.

It’s called the Amgen Tour of California, a 10-city, seven-stage, 700-mile event, from San Francisco to Redondo Beach, that features 16 of the top racing teams in the world including Tour de France champion Discovery Channel which will compete with the notable exception of seven-time individual champion Lance Armstrong, who has retired to wallow forever in the awe of cycling world.

Among the most well-known Americans in the Tour of California will be Levi Leipheimer, a Santa Rosa resident who finished sixth in the 2005 Tour de France. Leipheimer, who races for Gerolsteiner, a German-based team, obviously is pondering a golden opportunity when the Stage 2 of the Tour of California covers a 60-mile route from Sausalito to Santa Rosa on Feb. 20. The Tour starts with a 3.2-mile Prologue in San Francisco on Feb. 19.

San Jose will be the only city hosting two stages, including Stage 2, an 100-mile grind through the East Bay Hills from Martinez to the finish line at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Feb. 21, and a 20-mile Individual Time Trial on Feb. 22 through Coyote Valley starting on Bailey Road and ending at Murphy Middle School on Santa Teresa Avenue.

Among the local racers are San Jose resident Ben Jacques-Maynes and Jackson Stewart of Los Gatos, both racing for the KodakGallery.com/Sierra Nevada team.

Jacques-Maynes, a former national collegiate cyclocross champion out of UC-Santa Cruz, called the Tour of California “the biggest race of the year for us.”

Jackson, a 1998 graduate of Los Gatos High, cited his win in the Los Gatos Cats Hill Criterium last year as his favorite moment, but he also was a top-50 finisher in the 2005 Tour of Georgia, another international powerhouse of an event.

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales said he is “excited” about the Tour of California coming to San Jose. “I can’t figure why it took so long for something like this to happen,” he said.

Amgen’s Race Manager Bob Collarossi said the Tour will be “a signature world event,” and the San Jose finish of Stage 2 will be “a great separator in the race.”

Ernest Hemmingway contends, as a literary commandment, that life is “a moveable feast.”

The Tour of California’s dash through the streets of San Jose should prove just that.

For more information on the race see www.Amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Mustangs take 3-1 win over Piedmont Hills

The Pioneer girls’ soccer team took a convincing 3-1 win on the road at Piedmont Hills in Mt. Hamilton Division action on Jan. 19.

The Mustangs were led on offense by Shannon Righetti, who scored two goals in the win, while also getting a goal from sophomore Sammie Vega.

The win came on the heels of a robust 7-0 win against Overfelt on Jan. 17 for the Mustangs. That game saw five different Mustangs score goals, including both Righetti sisters with one goal each. Stephanie Righetti also assisted on two other goals in the win over the Royals.

Five shots drop Pioneer at home

Yerba Buena goals steal win in closing minutes

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Four Pioneer goals weren’t enough to drain super-charged Yerba Buena in a Mount Hamilton Division feud on Mustang land Friday.

Pioneer junior Favio Huato races upfield, looking for a target, versus Yerba Buena Friday. Huato scored once in the Mustangs’ 5-4 loss.

The Warriors (8-5-3, 4-2-2), who are newcomers to the A-League—they were awarded a slot in the division this season after winning the B-League Santa Teresa Division Championship in 2004-2005—overcame a 4-3 deficit in the second half, scoring two goals in the final 15 minutes to beat Pioneer 5-4, and for the second time this season.

“All season when we’ve gotten the lead late in the game, we’ve also gotten lazy,” said Pioneer captain Ross Kennedy. “We had that one goal lead, and I guess we got lazy again, thinking we had already won the game. Then they came back and scored the tying goal. We should never score four goals and lose.”

Tied 2-2 at halftime, the Mustangs took control early in the second half. Kennedy and junior Favio Huato joined senior Brian Velez in the scorebooks, each nailing go-ahead goals, before Yerba Buena was able to plant their cleats.

Velez just missed a hat trick, connecting on two scores himself.

“We play man-for-man,” said Pioneer head coach Pedro Fuentez. “We train players to always be aware of who is around, what strategy they are doing, what other teams are trying to pull on us. And that means if you are a middle half, you need to come back and help defend. We’ve been struggling on the left from the middle.”

The Warriors finally exposed Pioneer’s sore as the clock winded down. They challenged the left side with an additional forward and aimed the assault in that direction. The result was fatal, two goals scored without response in action; however, Mustang sidelines erupted when referees did not enforce an off-sides call while the winning goal sailed into the net.

“I give them respect as a team,” said Kennedy. “But one of their forwards was definitely too far ahead. “

As captain, Kennedy approached the referee to combat the call and state Pioneer’s position; however, the play as originally ruled.

“From the coach’s perspective, we have the right to agree or disagree,” said Fuentez. “I don’t think the officials did a very good job. Not once did the referee move out of his zone. There were a lot of handballs in the box and other things going on. You see the captain going to him; these kids get anxious.“

“But that’s not to take away from them,“ Fuentez added. “They just played good soccer ball. They are a good team and well disciplined. Every team has its pros and cons. YB plays with good communication.”

With a short six games remaining in league action, Pioneer is looking to gain one of three CCS playoff slots reserved for top finishers in the Mount Hamilton Division. Pioneer narrowly missed the opportunity last season.

“Right now we just have to take one game at a time,” said Fuentez. “It’s coming down to wins now. There is really no time anymore for excuses. We know how every team that we play plays now. We need to adjust and make substitutions. We’re not up here to lose again.”

Fuentez will test a new formula to solve the weak left. Sophomore Marcus Gomez was reportedly promoted into a starting forward position, alongside Velez, while junior Ismael Manriquez is penciled in as the starter at center mid.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t get in that third position,” said Fuentez.

Leland, rain flood Mount Pleasant goal

Two late-game goals sink Cardinal boys soccer

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Skies fell on Mount Pleasant ploys to ambush favored Leland when the Chargers poked two goals past Cardinal goalkeeper Adam Ramirez in the final five minutes of a Jan. 18 showdown at Mount Pleasant.

The 3-1 game strained nerves on both sides despite little bounty at stake.

Leland (7-7-1, 6-3-0) was guaranteed a berth in the CCS playoffs next month prior to the meeting, while the youthful Cardinals (6-10, 2-7) knew they would miss a postseason berth for the first time since Coach Nick Arellano took over the program in 2000-2001.

“There are only about three things which teams can control themselves and we‘ve done that,” said Arellano. “Nobody else has affected our attitude, our play, our conduct on the field. We’ve just had bad luck on the things that we cannot control. You need to have luck to be successful. I’m proud of them. The kids have done a great job controlling the things they can control,”

Mount Pleasant senior Daniel Ortiz tees off on a corner kick in the cardinal’s 3-1 loss versus Leland on January 18. The Cardinals will appreantly miss the playoffs for the first imte since 1999-2000.

After approximately 80 minutes spent exchanging ornery body checks and sloshing through a saturated quagmire, the teams were deadlocked at one goal apiece. Leland senior Ben Meade tapped in a low shot back off an errant pass in the box to open scoring. Mount Pleasant answered and scoring stalled until the 85th minute.

“We wanted to control the game and we wanted to take the game to them,” said Arellano. “Late in the game, I decided to attack because we needed the win.”

Arellano unleashed a risky offensive assault, hoping to catch the Chargers resting. He moved senior defender and team captain Daniel Ortiz to a forward position, leaving the Cardinals undermanned in the defensive backfield.

“You could certainly trace us losing to the fact that we were going for the win instead of going for a tie,” said Arellano. “I felt like maybe the extra push would get it for us. Had it been a game for the top spot, we could have sat back and taken our chances.”

While the Cardinals appeared to gain momentum, firing two shots on goal in the game’s waning minutes, it was Leland who ultimately capitalized.

Charger senior Peter Rodriguez led two assaults, initially taking the ball from a Mount Pleasant forward and punching it to junior Adel Arabi at midfield. Arabi eluded one defender and attempted to pass the ball right; however, Mount Pleasant sophomore Christian Salcedo deflected it—directly into the foot of Leland sophomore Adone Levine.

Alone, near the right side of the goal, Levine rolled in a score.

“We just went in and we were prepared for them,” said Arabi. “It was nothing in particular, I was just thinking we were going to win the game at that point. Our momentum was good.”

The goal thrust the chargers ahead 2-1.

“At that point you have to move the kitchen sink forward,” said Arallano.

Less than one minute later, Rodriguez got loose on another run, again snapping a quick pass to the right side, where the intended receiver was fouled inside the box. Rodriguez, who has reportedly signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas next season, nailed the ensuing penalty kick with a hot grounder, placed in the low left corner, while goalkeeper Ramirez dove to the right.

“Every game we’ve lost, it’s been by one goal or fewer,” said Arellano, who predicts brighter days in the near future—his starting lineup features two sophomores and two freshman. In addition, the Mount Pleasant junior varsity team is undefeated and in first place.

“We’ve dominated most of those as far as ball possession and number of shots,” he added. “We don’t have that one guy that you need to be successful this year. But I wouldn’t want to play us next year.”

“From my perspective, I thought it was a physical match, but I don’t think it got too cynical out there,” said first-year Leland Head Coach Rich Kubec. “I thought the challenges were just hard soccer challenges. It was a fairly well played game by both teams considering the field conditions.”

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