WEST TO FACE DEFENDING SO. CAL. STATE CHAMPIONS
ST. FRANCIS FROM LA CANADA IS FIRST ROUND CIF PLAYOFF OPPONENT
The Golden Knights are coming to town to kickoff the CIF Division I playoffs. While
West's first round opponent's record may not be impressive, don't be fooled. They are
currently playing their best ball of the season and are coming out of the perennially
tough Mission League. How tough is their league and program? Last year they finished
in fourth place in the league - just like they did this year - and went on to reach
the semifnals of CIF and win the Southern California State Championship. If West is
to do well in the playoffs, they will need to be ready to play the best teams in
Southern California from round one.
WARRIORS RALLY TO WIN BAY LEAGUE TITLE OUTRIGHT
O'GORMAN'S SLIDING EFFORT NETS TYING GOAL AND SPARKS TEAM TO WIN
One point up in the standings and one goal down in the early minutes of the match could
have put West in a precarious situation. Without knowing the result of the game played
earlier in the day by the team pursuing the Warriors, anything other than a win in the
final regular game of the season was not an option. While it turned out that West had
wrapped up at least a share of the Bay League title before the opening kickoff, the team
was determined to earn the win and championship outright. Backing into the league title
was not going to happen on this night.
An unmarked man on the near-post on an early corner kick by Redondo made the deficit 1-0.
While the miscue briefly raised the ire of the Warriors into a level of play marred by
frustration and hurriedness, the boys in brown quickly turned it around and a sense of
calm urgency took over. Mitchell O'Gorman was the first to
capitalize. A ball from BD resulted in a loose ball on the
endline next to the goal. With Mitch and the Redondo keeper both vying for the ball, it
was the soccer player formerly known as the Froman who pulled the trigger first. A slide
to get there first resulted in the ball tucking just inside the near-post to tie the game
in the 31st minute. Redondo may have given up on the play,
but Mitch certainly did not.
Then seconds before halftime, it was Scott Bower all over a
weakly cleared corner kick. Leaping to get over the ball, the left back struck the volley
with his laces to net his second goal of the season and to give West the 2-1 lead. A lead
they would not relinquish.
In the second half, West took over the game. The opportunities Redondo had in the first
part of the game nearly disappeared. West denied their chances earlier and stayed on the
attack for longer periods of time. Aaron Morales played a big
part in stopping the Seahawks with all of his hard tackling and ball winning in the middle
of the field. How big of an impact did he have? How about frustrating their players so much
that one of them could not do anything and responded by taking a swing at the tenacious
sophomore midfielder. A red card later and West was up a goal and a man.
Zach Williams closed out the game with a great attack on a corner
kick served by BD. The header, the goal, and the Bay League title. How fitting for the
senior-rich team
to win the league championship while showing the mettle and resiliency they have
demonstrated all season long. Here's to the continuing saga as the team enters the second
season - CIF.
Here's to gatorading the coach.
