On a very chilly soccer field at Pioneer Valley High School on Jan. 19, two crosstown rivals clashed until things got heated.
With fourth place at stake in the PAC-8 standings, the Pioneer Valley and Righetti high school varsity boys battled it out in a rough, high-intensity match under the lights. Both teams’ goalkeepers suffered injuries after violent collisions with opposing strikers. Elbows flew. The referee dished out what seemed like a dozen yellow cards.
In the end, it was the visiting Warriors (7-6-1, 5-2) who edged the Panthers, 3-1, and took firm possession of fourth place in the PAC-8 standings—trailing San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and Arroyo Grande high schools. Pioneer Valley (10-5-2, 3-3-1) remained in fifth place after the loss. The top four PAC-8 finishers are guaranteed spots in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, which was clearly on both teams’ minds during the game.
“You try to put yourself in position to get in the top four,” Righetti head coach Rob Golden said. “Pioneer Valley has been setting the bar the last couple of years. They’re a really good measuring block for us, and the boys know that. The boys really got up for that game.”
Despite the chippiness, both teams played sound soccer, each finding rhythms at different times in the game. Righetti jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a free kick by junior midfielder Miguel Pantoja. Then Pioneer Valley caught a tough break when goalkeeper Jorge Mendez, who had just subbed in for injured starter Osvaldo Andrade, misplayed a backpass. It was intercepted by Pantoja and tapped home for a score.
The Warriors made it 3-0 early in the second half with a well-placed penalty kick by junior midfielder Isaac Amaya.
While the scoreboard indicated a blowout, the Panthers kept at it. Senior forward Rigoberto Maldonado answered the penalty kick midway through the half with a goal of his own on a nice pass by senior David Mora. The Panthers turned the pressure up to try to pull within a goal, but the Righetti defensive line, led by senior captain Aaron Lee, was stout and well organized.
“That guy is just phenomenal,” Golden said of Lee. “By trade he’s a midfielder, but he changed his position because we needed him there.”
Pioneer Valley will continue league play at St. Joseph High School on Jan. 26, while Righetti takes on Atascadero High School at home on the same day.
Lompoc boys surge to top
Following a mediocre 11-13 record last season, the Lompoc High School boys’ soccer team is enjoying an undefeated start in Los Padres League play this season, a seven game winning streak, and a 10-4-2 record.
The Braves notched a crucial 1-0 win over second place Santa Ynez High School on Jan. 16 and followed that two days later with an exciting 4-2 double overtime victory at Nipomo High School. On Jan. 22, Lompoc beat Orcutt 2-1.
Lompoc head coach Marco Vargas told the Sun his team has the right mix of senior leadership and up-and-coming youth this season. Led in the back by senior Casey Blout and at the top with a dangerous sophomore, Alex Gonzalez, the Braves are stifling opponents on defense and scoring enough goals to win games.
“Gonzalez developed well from last year. He’s 6-foot-2 and nobody matches his speed up top,” Vargas said. “Defensively, Casey Blout is the brain and the heart back there.”
Junior midfielder Juan Montelongo (and his “wicked left foot”) compliment the Lompoc attack, Vargas said. Montelongo leads the team with seven goals on the season.
While the offense is humming, Vargas believes the key difference between this season and last for Lompoc is the defensive effort.
“We’re just more defensive minded,” he said. “Last year we let up a lot of easy goals. This year we’ve really cracked down.”
Other area teams rising to the top of the Los Padres League are Santa Ynez (8-4-3, 5-1-1) and Santa Maria (10-5-2, 5-1-1)—tied for second in the standings, as of press time.
Pirates girls continue dominance
The Santa Ynez girls’ soccer team is used to kicking butt in the Los Padres League. After all, 10 of the last 12 league titles have gone to the Pirates, according to coach Rob Cantrell.
Not much has changed this winter. Santa Ynez jumped out to a 10-1 start and has grabbed a quick hold of first place in the league.
But Cantrell said his team can’t look at the past and assume continued success.
“We have to compartmentalize every game and move on to the next,” he said. “We always have a target on our backs. … Any opponent that we have in the Los Padres League is going to be a tough game for us.”
Santa Ynez received its toughest test thus far against an undefeated Lompoc on Jan. 16. The Pirates prevailed, 1-0, and Cantrell beat his former assistant, Jason Cochrane, from when they coached the Allan Hancock College women’s team together.
“The atmosphere of the game was very much like a playoff game,” Cantrell said. “We were able to keep our composure despite a very emotionally charged game.”
Led with exceptional play from goalkeeper Breanna Rodrigues and fullback Sarina Diaz, the Pirates blanked the Braves. They’ve yet to allow a goal in league play. Up top, senior midfielder and Sonoma State-bound Julia Pritchard directs the offense with help from sophomore Sarah Johnston and junior Monica Pizano.
“[Pritchard] is involved in over 60 percent of our goals whether she’s scoring or assisting,” Cantrell said. “She’s leading the league in attacking points, mainly with her assists.”
Other than Lompoc (6-3-1, 5-1), trailing Santa Ynez in the standings is Orcutt Academy (11-4-1, 4-2), though the Pirates blanked them 4-0 on Jan. 9.
Sports contributor Peter Johnson can be reached at pjohnson@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2018.