Sports
'Second Season' Kicks, Tips Off for Local Teams
First-round games start Thursday for Fountain Valley and Los Amigos boys soccer, as well as Los Amigos girls basketball, while Barons boys basketball and Lobos girls soccer begin Friday.
Fountain Valley’s boys soccer team was admittedly down after losing its final two games of the regular season and forced to play a wild-card game just to make it to the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
Amazing what one game can do.
The Barons won a thrilling overtime game against Santa Margarita Tuesday, 4-3 on penalty kicks, after the match ended 3-3 in regulation, to restore their confidence in time to face fourth-seeded and defending CIF champion San Clemente Thursday at San Clemente. The match begins at 3 p.m.
Find out what's happening in Fountain Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We’re feeling pretty good about ourselves. We’re confident,” Barons coach Jason Smith said. “We beat a real sound Santa Margarita team and we have our confidence back after finishing the season on a down note.”
The Tritons (17-4-4) are the South Coast League champions, ending the season with eight consecutive victories before tying Aliso Niguel, 1-1, in the season finale. They are led by Greg Zerboni, who has 17 goals, and keeper Elias Licea with 85 saves.
Find out what's happening in Fountain Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Every team in the playoffs is going to be tough, whether you play them in the first round or last,” Smith said. “They are playing well, we’re going to their place, and they’re the team to beat as defending CIF champions.”
The Barons (14-6-5) have been consistent for most of the season except for the final two games and three losses against Marina. Ethan Morrow leads the team with 13 goals while Ryan Brown and Joseph Loranger have combined for 13 shutouts during the regular season.
But as Smith said, the playoffs are a whole new season.
“We have to play well to get the result we want, but who knows. It’s (the Tritons) first playoff game and anything can happen,” Smith said. “We’ve played great teams this year. Our guys will be ready.”
In other playoff games:
In girls basketball, Los Amigos opens the CIF Division 3AAA playoffs with a tough first-round game Thursday against Glendora (7 p.m.). The Lobos (15-7) were Garden Grove League champions this season.
In boys soccer, Los Amigos will host Valley Christian/Cerritos Thursday in a CIF Division 5 first round match, starting at 3 p.m.
In girls soccer, Los Amigos is on the road Friday and will face San Jacinto in the first round of the CIF Division 6 playoffs. Match time is 3 p.m.
In boys basketball, Fountain Valley will travel to Upland for a CIF Division 1AA first-round game Friday at 7 p.m. The Barons (17-8) finished third in the Sunset League.
