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SPORTSAlmaden Strikers strike gold Under-10 boys’ soccer team registers impressive record in AVYSL;
Throughout their outdoor season with AVYSL, which runs from August through November, the Strikers compiled an impressive record of 8-0-2 in league play as a Division II squad. Overall, with a pair of soccer jamborees (Mission Peak and Ballistic Jamborees) and the District Cup included, the squad was equally impressive, going 17-1-3, their only loss coming in District Cup play.
Pioneer Head Coach Joe Berticevich said he was pleased with the way his team kept focus, in spite of a large lead, particularly toward the end of the contest.
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| Leland’s David Farsai (left in blue) and Nav Deep Rai (right) play tough defense during a 56-44 win at Scotts Valley on Dec. 13. Farsai and Rai provided much of the scoring for the Chargers, combining for 35 points. Photo by Diego Abeloos |
The Chargers (2-4) rode the hot hands of Nav Deep Rai and David Farsai in the win, as each player fueled strong offensive scoring stretches in the second half. Those runs were aided by a strong defensive effort in the second half, which held the Falcons to 7 points in the fourth quarter.
“We were trying out a new zone defense and it started to jell a little bit,” said Leland Head Coach Dave Frandsen. “With certain players we have, it might fit us a little better than our man-to-man (defense) on occasion.”
Down 39-38 with 6:50 left in the game, the Chargers went to work on offense, piecing together a 14-0 scoring run that was led by Farsai, who contributed 12 points during the offensive stretch.
The Chargers started the scoring run on a pair of free throws from junior forward Colin Gootee to go up 40-39 before Farsai took over the game on offense.
Farsai hit a pair of jumpers and a layup within a two-and-a-half minute span to put Leland ahead 46-39 while the Charger defense held the Falcons at bay, causing a pair of turnovers to help ignite the scoring stretch. With just under three minutes to play, Farsai nailed a layup while being fouled, completing a 3-point play with a free throw at 2:58.
Farsai then finished up the Leland run less than a minute later, sinking a 3-pointer from the right corner at 2:14 to bump Leland’s lead to 52-39.
“Usually we want our defense to start our offense, but in this case today, our offense sparked our defense,” said Farsai, who finished the game with a team-high 22 points. “We got some momentum on offense, we came back down and took it out on them on defense. If we can establish defense turning into offense, that’s what we’re looking for.”
Farsai also credited Gootee with his performance during the run. The junior forward, making his first start at the varsity level, set a pair of picks near the top of the key, allowing Farsai to roll to his right side and hit shots. Gootee finished the game with 5 points.
“Collin’s got great size and guard-like handling,” Farsai said of Gootee. “He’s got good hands, he’s smooth and has a nice touch with his jump shot.”
“The second half was much better,” added Frandsen. “The fourth quarter in particular, we kind of got them isolated where we wanted to and we capitalized on some of their overplays. We got some easy baskets out of it.”
The Chargers also received a strong offensive effort in the third quarter from Rai, who ended the game with 13 points. Rai dropped in 8 points alone in the third quarter as part of an 8-4 scoring run put together midway through the quarter.
The Chargers began the second half with a small 24-20 lead and were up 27-22 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter when Rai found his shooting touch, sinking back-to-back layups to bump Leland’s lead to 9 points. Rai followed up that effort by sinking a layup and a jumper within a 28-second span, giving the Chargers a 25-26 lead with 3:11 left to play.
“Nav started my run,” said Farsai. “It’s contagious. When someone gets it going, everyone gets it going … He played really smart there at the end.”
The Falcons managed to claw back however, ending the third quarter on an 11-2 scoring run to tie the game 37-37. Still, Frandsen said he was happy with the offensive effort in the win, especially in regard to the two scoring runs in the second half.
“I was pleased with the way we answered the bell there in the beginning of the fourth,” Frandsen said. “We came out swinging and got things going and it was good for us.”
Break for fate
Pioneer rests on eve of three-peat
By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer
‘Tis the season for Pioneer girls’ soccer to rest up before chasing an unprecedented third consecutive Mt. Hamilton Division title.
The team breaks for the holidays following a successful, but intensive preseason schedule, arranged by spirited third year Coach Randy Worthington. The girls’ hard work has the Mustangs perched atop the MHAL with a perfect 3-0 record in league. And at 9-2-2 overall, the Mercury News hails them the 11th most dangerous team in CCS.
“We’ve already played some really strong teams,” said Worthington following his youthful squad’s latest spectacle, a 3-0 dismantling of perennial contender and 2004-2005 CCS finalist Santa Teresa High on Saint premises Thursday.
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| Pioneer junior Kira Allen races upfield at Santa Teresa Thursday. The Mustangs grabbed the upper hand with a 3-0 victory, positioning the team for a third consecitive MHAL crown, though early in the season. |
The game was Pioneer’s last until they meet Leland at home on Jan. 5.
“We scheduled heavy to see how we would handle ourselves (because) our league is one of the toughest public school leagues around,” continued Worthington. “We really won‘t get another break from here on out.”
The Mustangs overcame one ghost of seasons past during initial contact with ST. In the game, viewed widely as one that will soon control flow in the MHAL race and playoff seeding (the other features Leland and Leigh), the Saints never gained footing, dislodged by an offensive onslaught launched by Pioneer.
Senior co-captain Lauren West silenced the Saints’ home crowd when she nailed a low corner kick, bending the ball around defenders early in the first half. Bianca Springer also tapped in two goals, one long-range, on assists courtesy of junior co-captain Stephanie Righetti.
“Stuff like that makes you feel good,” commented West. “This year was supposed to be a building year, but it seems like we are really coming together with chemistry. It seems like if we are down, near the end of the game, we always find ways to make that pass and get it done.
Despite graduating five key seniors, all but one who now hold roster spots at college, Pioneer has overachieved to date. Captains West, Righetti and Syra McCarthy, a senior stopper, maintain that it’s a commitment to camaraderie that nurtures success.
“When we first came out this season,” said McCarthy, “We lacked communication. But through all of our preseason games, that’s really paid off. Now our strength is communication.”
With three seniors leading eight juniors, two sophomores and five freshmen, the dynamics have changed since McCarthy and West took the field four years ago. Senior-laden squads of old hold fond memories, but offer no insight for seniors on this team.
“We always had a tradition where seniors would throw freshman in the mud,” explained McCarthy, who was reportedly dumped in a smelly puddle four years ago. “It’s sort of scary for me to think about it, but now we have to step up and lead like the seniors did our freshman year.”
Outnumbered, McCarthy, West and fellow senior, goalkeeper Kalia DeMarquez, rely on encouragement, humor and precise skill sets to inspire the troops.
West in particular is touted as a top recruit in the area. She is currently under the surveillance of Fresno state and UC Davis. The 2004-2005 junior of the year will vie for MHAL MVP honors this season.
“With some teams, like last year’s team, I could get a fix on how the mood was before the game,” said Worthington. “This team is different though. They like to stay loose. They go out and joke around when they warm up. But then they really bear down when it’s time to play.”
“We focus and get serious when it’s time,” said West. “But we need comic relief. We are a funny bunch.”
Goodbye Earthquakes
Team bolts for Houston; city of San Jose signs letter of intent with MLS for expansion team
Unable to reach agreement on a soccer-specific stadium and or find a new owner for the team, AEG announced on
Dec. 15 that the city of Houston will become the new home of the San Jose Earthquakes.
The move is effective immediately and means all players and coaching staff currently under contract will transfer to Houston as part of the new organization. Details of the move were unveiled at a press conference on Dec. 16 at City Hall in Houston.
The city of San Jose and Major League Soccer have signed a letter of intent that provides a wide variety of support elements, including a stadium financing plan to attract a local investor for an MLS expansion team in San Jose as early as 2007. The details of the letter of intent will be voted on at a future San Jose City Council meeting. The Earthquakes name, colors and competition records have been retained by MLS for this future expansion team.
“We thank the fans of the Earthquakes for their support throughout the past 10 years,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “It is our intention to bring Major League Soccer back to the Bay Area with a new expansion team as early as 2007. MLS is committed to working with local business leaders and city officials to continue these efforts. With the support of the City of San Jose, a local ownership group and a soccer-specific stadium, professional soccer can be very successful in northern California.”
According to Major League Soccer, soccer-specific stadiums are a critical component of the league’s strategy to grow professional soccer in the United States. The Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and FC Dallas presently play in soccer-specific stadiums, while the Chicago Fire (2006), Colorado Rapids (2007), MetroStars (2007) and Real Salt Lake (2008) will all play in new soccer venues in the near future. The majority of these stadiums have been financed through public/private partnerships.
“It is with great regret that we were unable to find a solution to our facility issues in San Jose,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG. “It was not for lack of effort and financial investment made by AEG, providing a life-line to this team for three years, to turn around a difficult situation. Unfortunately, despite efforts by the city of San Jose, there was never a solution to the facility issue. We thank the fans for their support and are hopeful that a team will be back in this marketplace in the near future.”
The San Jose Clash was founded at the start of MLS in 1996 and was owned and operated by the League. In November 1998, the Kraft family became the investor-operator of the club, renaming the team the Earthquakes in October 1999. In early 2001, Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment became the operator of the Earthquakes, and partnered with AEG to become the investor-operators of the team in March 2002. AEG became the sole investor-operator in 2003 with plans to keep the team in San Jose while working to identify a new local ownership group and stadium plan.
The two-time MLS Cup champion Earthquakes (2001, 2003) made MLS history in 2005 when it became the only club to ever go an entire season unbeaten at home (9-0-7). Under the leadership of Head Coach Dominic Kinnear and standouts such as forward Brian Ching, goalkeeper Pat Onstad and midfielder Ricardo Clark, the Earthquakes won the 2005 MLS Supporters Shield with 64 points, the second-highest point total in MLS history.
Information for this article was provided by www.mlsnet.com.
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