Boys Varsity Soccer

'SCUSE ME, I'LL TAKE THAT -- Eagle goalie Alejandro Garcia makes one of his many second half saves. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Christian Learning wins shootout
Eagles, Griffins battle to 2-2 tie

The Christian Learning and International varsity boys soccer teams fought each other tenaciously Thursday afternoon in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie on the Griffins' field.
Then in the gathering darkness five players from each team took turns firing penalty shots. Four of the Eagle shots went in, and three of the Griffins'.
Victory in the shootout gives the Eagles two points in the standings. The Griffins get only one. Otherwise the game will be recorded as a tie in the SCISL history books,
The Griffins started the scoring, with Jorge Harriague slamming a goal early in the first half.
Ricardo Telchi evened the score at 1-1 when he caught up to a long upfield pass by Josh Mojica, right in front of the Eagle goal.
International got the lead back, 2-1 just before the half ended when a free kick got away from the Eagle goalie and was hammered in by Sergio Vargas.
The second half was scoreless until about halfway through when Eagle Alex Apodaca neatly headed a corner kick into the goal to make it 2-2.
That was the end of the scoring in the second half, though that was not for lack of trying. The Griffins had numerous shots on goal, but goalie Alejandro Garcia made a number of elegant, seemingly prescient saves.
One shot by Griffin Daniel Baldivieso did pop loose, but there was no Griffin on hand to take advantage of it, and it rolled harmlessly off to the right of the goal.
Both teams nearly broke the tie in the final minute. Baldivieso again was in themiddle of things, unleashing a bounding shot that Garcia had trouble handling cleanly. However, the goalie held on to the follow-up shot that came at him.
Seconds later, Mojica of the Eagles fired a free kick that a teammate on the far side of the goal almost linked up with.
In the shoot-out Mojica, Telchi, Danny Canaviri, and Esteban Eguez made their shots for the Eagles. Alex Roempler, Jorge Harriague, and Nicolas Bedoya were successful.
Yerllow cards were issued to Nicolas Bedoya of International, and to George Pyung Lin and Nicholas Smith of Christian Learning.

Cambridge 7, Cooperative 3
Sanchez on rampage, shoots five

The Cambridge boys varsity soccer team, paced by five goals from Junior Sanchez, posted a decisive 7-3 victory over Cooperative Thursday on the Jaguars' field.
The Knights scored in the first minute on a free kick by Martin Pacor that set Sanchez up for his first goal. The two players would do the same thing shortly before halftime. In the meantime the Knights would pick up a goal by Anthony Salvatierra, and the Jaguars would notch one when Wilson Salvatierra beat Cambridge goalie Juan Manuel Salas to the ball.
Sanchez, who is the son of Bolivia's national team coach Erwin "Platini" Sanchez, took charge of play in the second half. Twice he took the ball from around the midfield stripe and worked his way past the entire Jaguar defense to score.
Another Sanchez goal came on a complex play featuring a pass into the center from wing Nicolas Gamboa to Pacor, who again teed the ball up for Sanchez.
Pacor added a goal of his own as well.
Abuawad scored twice in the second half in the Jaguars' losing cause.
The game may not have been a true reflection of the Jaguars' capabilities in that several players had been benched for missing a required study hall, or were having academic problems. However, it's also possible that no one could have stopped Sanchez on this particular afternoon.
Esteban Cronenbold of the Jaguars was given a yellow card, There were no other penalty cards issued.

JV Boys Soccer

Christian Learning 5, International 4
Eagle JV beats Griffins in final seconds

Felipe Arce of the Christian Learning boys junior varsity soccer team scored twice in rapid succession at the end of a wild and crazy game to give the little Eagles a 5-4 win over International in a whang-bang game played on the Griffins' field.
Before getting too far into the recapitulation of the goals scored in this game, it should be said that it was a great game, well played on both sides. No junior varsity game last season was played with comparable speed, precision, and offensive efficiency until the very end of the season.
Joaquin Blasco of the Griffins got the parade of goals started in the first half, but his goal was answered by Eagle Esteban Sosa, and the score stood at 1-1 at the end of the first half.
The action stepped up a notch in the second half. An apparent Eagle goal was called back by an offside call. Then International's Javier Barron unleashed a shot that appeared to have been stopped by the Eagle goalie, but it squirted loose and Barron was able to hammer it home.
It was now 2-1, and it quickly became 3-1 as Eduardo Pantoja knocked in another rebound.
But then it was the turn of Richard Enns of Christian Learning to exploit a goalie error. He put in a shot that made in 3-2.
Less than a minute later Esteban Sosa of Christian Learning headed a cross pass in to tie the game up again at 3-3.
But now it was International's turn again. Pantoja picked up his second goal with a spectacular bicycle kick from the right side of the goal to give the Griffins back the lead at 4-3.
International narrowly missed heading in a goal that might have put the game on ice.
But then the stage was set for Arce to perform his heroics in the closing minute. He knotted the score at 4-4 with a quick turn-around shot.
The little Eagles quickly took the ball away from the Griffins after the kick-off, and their attack pulled the Griffin goalie out of position, allowing Arce to hit a slow-rolling dribbler that hopped along the ground while all the players and a big crowd of spectators watched with their hearts in their mouths. The ball hit the far post and went in just as the closing whistle sounded.

Santiago Paz scores three
Jaguar JV upends Cambridge, 4-0

The Cooperative junior varsity boys soccer team posted an easy win over Cambridge, 4-0, Thursday afternoon on the Jaguar field.
Santiago Paz scored three times for the Jaguar kittens, and Jose Abuawad had one goal.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

Eagle uprising suppressed
Griffins get a scare, but win 2-0

The International girls varsity volleyball team fell seriously behind early in the first set in its match against Christian Learning Thursday, but rallied to win in straight sets.
These same two teams had engaged in a knock-down, drag-out battle in last year's championship game, which International won, but the Griffins looked to be the stronger team on paper this year measured by losses through graduation.
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IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST -- Griffin Fabiana Murillo (No. 7) tries to tap in a winner against a leaping Eagle. Jonatan Muñoz, International

However, the Eagle girls served notice early that they will again be a team to be reckoned with as they took an 8-3 lead, dominating the Griffins who made a number of bad serves and committed other unforced errors.
The Griffins evened the count on the fine serving of Ariane Nostas, who is back from an exchange program. The two teams then battled on an equal basis until the score was deadlocked at 13-all. At that point the Griffins seemed to take charge, and built a five-point lead at 20-15.
The Eagles were not quite ready to roll over, however, and battled back to within one point at 21-20. The final phase of the set consisted of an exchange of bad serves as player after player on both sides put just a little bit too much mustard on the ball, hitting it out, a typical early season problem.
International finally won 25-23.
The second set was almost as hard fought. The two teams were tied at 17-all. Many points were decided only after long rallies. Eagle Tabitha Malloy, the tallest player on the court, along with Hannah Moss, Hannah Swindoll, and Alejandra Valencia played well for the Eagles. Fabiana Murillo and Melisa Roca made great hits for the Griffins.
Both teams were able to make saves off the net that surprised their opponents. And both sides were able to handle most short-range spikes. The points were more often made by hitting open spots in the backcourt.
International was the steadier team, however, and prevailed in the second set 25-20 to take the match 2-0.

Talk about topsy-turvy!
Jaguars beat Knights 2-1 in wild one

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team finally emerged victorious in their contest against Cambridge Thursday in their home gym, but only after losing the first set 19-25 to the Lady Knights.
In the second set either the Jaguars pulled themselves together or the Knights fell apart (depending on your point of view), and the Jaguars triumphed 25-7.
Things returned to more of a balance in the third and deciding set, but the Jaguars prevailed 15-11, thank to excellent serving by Veronica Richter, together with some great sets and saves from Karla Flores and excellent passes bythe Jaguars lone senior Alexia Handal.
For Cambridge, Helen Yong played excellent volleyball, while Ana Saavedra made several spectacular diving "digs."

JV Girls Volleyball

Cambridge JV forfeits, Jaguars win

The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team picked up an easy victory Thursday afternoon when the Cambridge team failed to show up.

Griffin JV victorious over Eagles, 2-0

The International junior varsity girls volleyball team triumphed easily over an inexperienced Christian Learning team Thursday in their home gym. The Griffinettes won both sets by identical 25-13 scores.

Varsity Boys Volleyball

Jaguars beat Knights in straight sets

By Ana Saavedra Bazer
Cambridge College
The Cooperative varsity boys volleyball team was in mid-season form as it defeated Cambridge 2-2, winning the first set 25-16 and the second set 25-14.
It was a very equal game at the beginning, with both teams seeming to have a great day. The Knights were playing a lot better than last year, and the Jaguars were playing well also, with both teams showing off.
But as time wore on, the Jaguars forged an 8-4 lead. The game continued with about the same margin until the score stood 20-15. At that point the Jaguars seemed to notice that they needed to step up their efforts if they wanted to nail down the win.
So they did, and won the first set 25-16. (Ouch! What happened to the Knights?)
The second set started tight as well, just like the first set, and after five minutes of play the score was 6-6: But at this point the Jaguars better preparation seemed to pay off. The Knights showed that they had the talent, but they also demonstrated that they needed to take the game a lot more seriously if they wanted to win.
Jaguars moved out to a 23-12 lead, and finally won 25-14.



STRENGTH VS. STRENGTH -- Eagle star Jeff Stabler tries to power a spike past two leàping Griffins. Jonatan Muñoz, International


Repeat of championship
Griffins scramble to edge Eagles, 2-1

The International boys varsity volleyball team picked up right where it left off in last year's championship game, squeezing by Christian Learning in a hard-fought contest, two sets to one.
The Griffins took the first set 25-19 and appeared to be in control of the match, but the Eagles fought back hard and took the second set 26-24.
International prevailed in the third set, 15-9, to take the match.
The outcome was more or less the same as last year's championship game, which the Griffins also won 2-1.

JV Boys Volleyball

Young Eagles defeat Griffins 2-0

The Christian Learning boys junior varsity volleyball team defeated International Tuesday in the Griffins gym, two sets to none.
The Eagle JV won the first game 25-19, and then held on to take the second 26-24. The Griffin boys JV had not lost since 2006.

Jaguar JV wins against Knights, 2-0

The Cooperative junior varsity boys volleyball team started its season with a decisive win against a talented Cambridge team, two sets to none, in their home gym Tuesday.
The Junior Jaguars won the opening set 25-20, staving off an attempted comeback by the Knights. The Cooperative team then took the second set more easily, 25-11.

Girls Varsity Soccer

Landivar tallies thrice
Jaguars outrun Lady Knights, 6-0

The Cooperative girls varsity soccer team began the defense of its title with a convincing 6-0 defeat of a gritty Cambridge team on the Jaguar field Tuesday.
Freshman Tania Landivar scored three times for the Jaguars, who also got goals from Cecelia Aponte, Fernanda Vaca Diez, and Aldana Roda.
The game started slowly, with both teams getting some early opportunities, but without forcing either goalie to make an heroic effort.
Passes by both teams floated lazily on the the August breeze, withneither offense showed much discipline. For a while it looked as if the teams might be heading for a scoreless tie, which happened once last year.
Gradually the balance swung in favor of the Jaguars, who had the wind with them, and Aponte finally got the scoring started shortly before the end of the half .
She took charge of a rebound during a melee in front of the Cambridge goal, and popped the ball into the net.
The half ended with the Jaguars holding a 1-0 lead, and much of the second half would pass before the Jaguars finally rolling and started breaking through the Cambridge defense with regularity.
Landivar put another point on the board for the Jaguars when she broke away from a defender, dodged past Knight goalie Raquel Lopez, who had come out to meet her, and whacked the ball into the right side of the net.
She got her second goal goal when a long crossing shot went in and out of Lopez' hands, landing at Landivar's feet.
Less than a minute later Vaca Diez took a little pass that got her past the Cambridge defense, carefully settled the ball, then knocked the ball home.
The score went to 5-0 on Landivar's third goal, which was set up by a clever pass from Roda, after Lopez had been pulled out of position.
Roda scored the final goal when, with an adroit flip of her hip, she deflected a corner kick by Landivar into the goal.
Despite giving up six goals, Cambridge's Lopez played well in goal, making a number of remarkable sliding saves. She didn't have much of a chance on most of the Jaguar goals. The Jaguars also had a number of near misses.
Cambridge's offense consisted of several exciting forays by speedy Moira Vaca, but she was never able to shake off all the Jaguar defenders (though she tried), and rarely had a teammate open for a pass.
There were no penalties.

HERE IT COMES -- Griffin Melisa Roca uncorks a pass goalward. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffin girls down Lady Eagles, 3-0

The International varsity girls soccer team defeated Christian Learning 3-0 Tuesday on the the Griffins home field.
Melisa Roca scored to give the Griffins a 1-0 lead at halftime. After the intermission International added goals by Fabiana Murillo and Natalia Suarez. Roca received a yellow card.

JV Girls Soccer

Eaglettes win opener over Griffins

The Christian Learning junior varsity girls soccer team won 2-0 against International Tuesday on the Griffins' field. The Eagle girls got goals from Luciana Colina and Eileen Lin.

Season Preview

DANCING IN THE DARK -- Cambridge, International battled into overtime.

Excitement high for soccer, volleyball

The curtain is about to go up on the 2008 SCISL soccer and volleyball seasons, which promise to be, if anything, even more thrill-packed than last year’s. Excitement seems to be on the upswing all around the league with most schools reporting record numbers of student trying out for varsity teams.
Here’s how the boys and girls varsity seasons shape up in both sports.
Boys soccer: No favorites
No one would be fool enough to try to guess the outcome of the boys soccer season after last season’ topsy-turvy race in which the last-place team surged to second, while the the team that led for most of the season dropped to last.
International, last year’s champion, lost some key players through graduation, including Eduardo Bedoya who was sixth in the league in scoring, and booted home the winning goal in overtime to give International last year’s trophy. Also departed are offensive stars Tommy Marcos and Jonathan Paz.

But the Griffins will have the services of Daniel Baldivieso, the number three scorer, and Juan Javier Estenssoro, number ten. Jan Ivo Sochtig, a standout on defense, will also be back. Moreover, some players will be moving up from

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JUMP BALL -- Griffins, Knights fought hard all season, but Griffins prevailed.

International’s junior varsity, which won the JV championship last year.

There was a big turnout for tryouts this year, and Coach Eduardo “Presi” de la Riva reports that he has enough players to field two good teams. His hope is that at least one of those two teams will be able to defeat the teams that will be aiming to take International’s crown away.
Junior Sanchez is back
Cambridge came closest last year, losing 2-1 in overtime in the championship. The Cambridge scoring attack should be more or less intact with Junior Sanchez, the league’s leading scorer, returning to action, along with Martin Pacor, number nine. Other offensive threats who will be returning include wings Nicky Gamboa and Zhau Fua Zhou Zeng.
However, the defense will need to be retooled to replace Manfred Grote, who was goalie during the Knights’ second half surge, and Jorge Yuan, the big sweeper back who was seemingly always there when needed.
Carlos Euler will again be the head coach, with help, as usual, from Erwin Sanchez.
Jaguars need new blood, have it
Cooperative will need a lot of new talent to replace the ten players from last year’s team who graduated, including Pablo Taborga, a top ten scorer, Esteban Espinoza, Juan Peredo, Esteban Gomez, Cristobal Roda, and Daniel Linggi. Goalie Juan Casares has moved to Spain.
But the Jaguars may have found that talent. The Jaguars will be young, with a lot of new faces, says Coach Orlando Taja. Sixteen of the players on the roster are 9th and 10th graders. Moreover, the Jaguars will be welcoming back Jose Manuel Vasquez, the league’s number two scorer, along with Juan Alfredo Abuawad, Milan Marinkovic, Jorge Rojas (Captain), Jean Andre Bretel, Federico Sauto, and Pablo Limpias, as well as captain Jorge Rojas.
Eagles not out of running
Christian Learning fared much better in terms of losses through graduation, losing only David Lotz from last year’s starting line-up. Back for another year are Josh Mojica, the number four scorer last year, and Alex Apodaca, number eight, along with defensive standout Danny Canaviri. The Eagles, who will again be coached by Douglas Montaño, should be team to be reckoned with once again.
Girls Soccer: Jaguars to Repeat?
One has to like the chances of the chances of the Jaguar girl varsity soccer team in defending its title. It will have the services of the league’s number two and three scorers from last year, Tania Landivar and Maria Fernanda Vaca Diez. Last year they were only in the eighth grade and this year they will be a whole year older. Other returning stars include Carla Limpias, Alexia Handal, and Aldana Roda.

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WHO WILL FILL HER SHOES?

Goalie Nataly Noguer, now graduated, will be missed

The big question for Cooperative will be whether they have anyone who can fill the shoes of standout goalie Nataly Noguer, who has graduated. In fact, the Jaguars graduated nine of the players from last year’s squad, as well as Hailey White, the number four scorer, who moved to Canada.
However, a number of talented players will be moving up from last year’s undefeated junior varsity team.
Eagles must find new stars
Christian Learning’s girls varsity was probably hurt the worst of any team by graduation, losing eleven of the players on last year’s squad, including many of the stars. The Eagles have said farewell to Daniela Brooks, the top scorer in the league last year, playmaker Roxy Jien, elegant forward Sabrina Hallock, all-around standout Jennifer Lau, and intimidating defender Katie Beth Wilcke.
On the plus side, Alejandra Valencia, number five in scoring last year, will be returning. Still, new head coach Lindahl clearly has a rebuilding job on his hands.
Can Griffins, Knights move up?
It’s an open question as to whether International or Cambridge’s girls will be up to challenging for the championship this year. Only sporadically last year could they play Cooperative and Christian Learning on an even basis, though each managed a tie with one of the two top teams.
International lost its biggest offensive threat, Laura Chavez, but will have a core of talented players to build around, including Melisa Roca, and Ana Karina Marin. Ariane Nostas, a junior, is back from an exchange program in France, and could provide some needed scoring kick.
Cambridge has the bigger challenge on paper. The Lady Knights not only had trouble generating any kind of offense last year, but they also lost a lot of experienced players to graduation, including Lourdes Justiniano and Belen Muñoz, who were stalwarts on defense.
Still, there is cause for hope in the Knights' tower. The Knights’ new coach, Karla Ross, knows how to generate offense. Two year’s ago she was the biggest offensive threat in the league as a player. And she is at least mildly optimistic. “I have a lot of good players,” she says.
Ross will be trying to design a more potent attack around senior speedster Moira Vaca, who last year often outran her own teammates. This year she will have some swift companions, including Camila Johnson, who was outstanding on both offense and defense for the junior varsity last year, and Vitania Pulis, another JV player with a scoring knack.
Boys Volleyball: Will Griffins be challenged?
International, last year’s boys varsity volleyball champions, will have some big holes to fill, including those of its big hitter, Pablo Muñoz, and Waldo Bernal, who have both graduated.

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TAKE THAT! -- Boys volleyball was a three-way race in 2007.

But Coach Eli Vilar, whose teams are always well prepared, has some outstanding players to work with including Rodrigo Bernal, Alex Roempler, Jose Maria Landivar, Christopher Saltzieder, and Mauricio Nostas. Jan Ivo Sochtig, an outstanding athlete who did not play volleyball last year, is back on the roster.
Eagles' big hitters return
International will be tough to beat, but Christian Learning’s boys team, which almost did it last year, should be formidable, with star hitters Jeff Stabler and Esteban Eguez both back, along with a number of other experienced players including Kyle Swope and Mark Salinas. The Eagles will miss Tim Swope, who graduated, but most of the rest of the team retuirns to contend again.
Dark horses. Jaguars, Knights
Cooperative, which was in contention all the way to the end last year, will have to find a replacement for team leader, Cristobal Roda, and two other seniors. However, it has some fine athletes coming back, including David Shin, Diego Morales, and Juan Alfredo Abuawad.
Cambridge won only one game last year, almost a fluke victory against Cooperative in the playoffs, and its prospects would seem dubious for the coming season except that it too has a new coach, Victor Coronado. Coronado has guided Knight teams to championships in basketball, and may be able to bring his winning touch to volleyball.
Girls Volleyball: A new paradigm?
International's varsity girls owned volleyball last season, going undefeated and only losing three sets all year. Two key players from last year have graduated – Laura Chavez and Simonne Ahuile – and Stephanie Saltzieder has gone to the US. However, many of the Girl Griffin starters are back, including Soraya Dajbura, Fabiana Murillo, Melisa Roca, and Diana Paula Melgar. Ariane Nostas, in France last year, will be back in a blue-and-white uniform.
Misty's Magic Touch
The Griffins main competition will probably come from Cooperative. The Jaguar girls were not contenders last year, but only lost one player to graduation, and their new coach is Misty Skidmore, who guided the Jaguar girls JV to a championship last year. (That was the only volleyball category in which International did not win.)
Skidmore’s players are very loyal to her, and there was a record turnout for tryouts.
The Jaguars will have only one senior starting this year – Alexia Handal – but Skidmore expects great things from juniors Cecelia Aponte, Ana Paola Justinianio, and Karla Flores, as well as freshmen Sofia Sotelo and Carla Limpias from last year’s JV champions.

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RENEWED BATTLE -- Griffins and Jaguars could fight for first in 2008.

Christian Learning’s girls volleyball team, like its soccer team, was hard hit by graduation, but will have some experienced players to build its team around.
Cambridge, which was inconsistent last year and ended up in last place, has now lost most of the big guns from the championship team of two years ago. Nan Jordan, the best player on last year’s team, has gone off to college.
But, as with Cambridge boys, they have a new coach with winning ways, Victor Coronado, and at least two good returning players, Mariana Escaño and Ana Saavedra to build around.