Check out the action from the opening week of the Orchard Valley
Youth Soccer League
Recreational
Under 6
The Amazing Six team played its season opener against the Gilroy Tigers. Both team played very well. Brandon Purcell scored a goal for the Amazing six on an assist from Mitchel. Marcus Valenzuela, Adam and Madelyn had several good shots at the net.
Girls U12
The U12 Morgan Hill Flyers and the Gilroy Green Geckos battled to a scoreless tie. Flyers team captains Andrea Salem and Vienna Lai helped in the shutout. Tori Thompson, Chelsey Hice, Cassandra Valenzuela and Kayla Cisernoz had many scoring chances, but the Geckos defense held up. Alejandra, Bryn Herdrich and Haley Sponlser provided the strong defense for the Flyers, stopping several Geckos attacks. Michele Sisto, Samantha Robinson, Julie Warner and Tori Thompson showcased good second-half defense. Paige Wilson and Dianna Cedeno pushed the Geckos’ defense in the second half with their offensive attacks. Rachel Cructher provided defense stops in the second half. Cassandra Valenzuela and Tori Thompson had a couple of near misses on the net.
Class 1
Boys 10U
The U10 Lightning started its season with a sparkling effort against the Terremotos. The Lightning had some spectacular plays both offensively and defensively against a tough opponent. The speed and brilliant shooting created many scoring chances. Outstanding play was demonstrated by all. Most noteworthy was David Gunther with his determined play, Trevor Fuhriman with his terrific speed, Cam Weirhauser on the coverage, Scottie Henningsen and his smothering defense and Andrew Whitling with his aggressive play.
Boys 14U
The Orchard Valley U14 Boys’ Class I soccer club opened Abronzino League play this past weekend and split their two games.
The Stingrays new defense, with Casey Mott as sweeper and Matt Altamirano as left fullback, added to regulars Eric Miller (right fullback) and Kevin Grove (stopper).
The Mt. Hamilton Lobitos, who won the State Cup earlier this year, scored what would prove to be the only goal midway through the first half as their left winger knocked a loose bouncing ball past keeper Ricardo Plata. The Stingrays had many opportunities to tie or even take the lead, as shots from Gerardo Murillo, Murilo Almeida and Plata just missed the goal in the second half.
Second half keeper Kevin Grove made a nice diving save off a free kick to keep the score close. Midfielders Bryan Faulk, Blake Presar, Myles Downing, Brendant Palomo and Nick Rodriquez each played solidly to provide the Stingrays scoring opportunities. Late in the game, center midfielder Danny Nelson made a run to the goal, but his shot just sailed over the net.
The Stingrays continued their stellar defensive performance on Sunday, holding the De Anza Heaters to under 10 shots on goal and continually winning ball possession at the Morgan Hill Soccer Complex.
Mott and Altamirano each had scoring opportunities from the backline, as their runs just missed scores off nice saves by the Heaters’ goalie.
Early in the second half, Plata got the Stingrays on the board with a nice chip shot over the goalie with the assist going to left winger Noel Vera. Almeida made the score 2-0 as Danny Nelson headed him a pass down the right wing and Almeida blasted a shot into the upper right corner of the net.
With ten minutes left to play, Vera concluded the Stingrays scoring with the third goal to seal the win. The Stingrays will be traveling to Santa Cruz this Saturday to play the SCC Assault, this year’s State Cup runner-up.
Class 3
Boys U9
Strong defense and clutch goaltending were the keys during the 6-2 opening day win for the OV Quakes Boys U9 competitive team playing a road game against the Almaden Valley Bobcats in the Delgado Class 3.
Christian Manzo opened the scoring eight minutes into the game for the Quakes with a rocket past the Bobcats keeper. Vincent Czeropski had a hat trick, while Jonathan Deleon and Christopher Nojadera added a goal each. Dwight Payne and Miller Menzie shut down many attacks from the strong Bobcats. Quakes goalkeeper Carlos Herrera made a spectacular kick save while the game was still close, preserving the win for the Quakes.
Girls U9
The Orchard Valley Storm girls under 9 team dominated the Mt. Hamilton Cyberrays throughout the game. Goalies Megan Nebesnick and Rebekah Inouye played flawlessly. The Storm defense, led by Jada Williams, Sydney Barker and Tula Urban, played physical and stopped any Mt. Hamilton threats. Storm midfielders Janessa Garcia, Amber Thomas and Taylor Slattery controlled the tempo of the game, while Storm forwards Samantha Riolo, Colby Carson and Hailey Hamilton applied constant pressure to the Mt. Hamilton team. The Storm goals were scored by Rebekah Inouye and Taylor Slattery.
Girls U12
The Tornadoes started the regular season with a 2-1 win over the Santa Cruz Quakes although slowed by illness. Alex Seda was not available, and several players were a bit under the weather. The Tornadoes front line and midfield (Taylor Johnson, Amanda Kline, Amanda Whitling, Bella Comin, JC Clayton, Sarah Block, Clarissa Hammer, Lexi MacPhail and Mary Thatcher) kept almost constant offensive pressure on the Quakes in the first half, but it was a scoreless tie until Taylor Johnson bounced a shot past the Quakes goalie for a 1-0 lead.
Tornadoes goalie Nichole Downing kept the Quakes off the board with a couple of nice saves early, paying for the saves with a couple of painful shots to the head. It was 1-0 at the half, and the Quakes made some strong offensive pushes to open the second half.
The Tornadoes’ always tough defense, anchored by Stephanie Wan, Cloey LemMon and Lindsay Pund, kept the Quakes off the board. The Tornadoes almost scored on an excellent setup pass from Johnson that Lexi MacPhail banged high and hard, but her shot just caught the left post.
The Tornadoes finally got an insurance goal when Sarah Block stole a Quakes goal kick and rolled her left footed shot past the goalie for a 2-0 lead. That goal turned out to be critical, as the Quakes countered almost immediately with a breakaway goal to cut the lead to 2-1. Next week the Tornadoes host the DeAnza Freedom.
Girls U16
The De Anza Flash, composed of players from Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin, beat the Los Gatos Magic 3-0 in the home opener at Jollyman Park in Cupertino Saturday afternoon.
In the second half, Maurya Campeau cleared a ball up the left side to Kendra Sato, who drove to the end line and hit a low firm cross to the feet of Brittany Barnes. While running past the goal, Barnes flicked the ball past the Magic goalie to the far post.
Soon after, Alison Wan found herself in position for a rebound and one timed it from 10 yards out to the bottom left corner.
Ten minutes later, Jessica Seifert sent a ball down the left touch line to Sarah Whitling. Whitling split two defenders from her wing half position and sent another low ball to Barnes who lofted it to the upper right corner.
Late in the game, Melanie Regan made two great saves to preserve the shutout. Regan had to stretch full length to her left to snag one hard shot. Then the Magic came back with a high cross. No problem for Regan.
The team is in need of another experienced player. If interested, email coach Ballan Campeau at ba********@*ol.com for tryout information.
