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Another playoff push for Saints, Wildcats soccer?
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CommentPlayoff appearances in the sport of high school soccer have become routine at Calistoga and St. Helena.
The goal this year for each school will be to achieve even greater success in the postseason. Here’s a closer look at each program:
The goal this year for each school will be to achieve even greater success in the postseason. Here’s a closer look at each program:
St. Helena Boys
Since Ozzie Gallegos took over as St. Helena High’s boys soccer coach in 2001, the Saints are 7-for-7 in CIF North Coast Section Class A playoff appearances.
Since Ozzie Gallegos took over as St. Helena High’s boys soccer coach in 2001, the Saints are 7-for-7 in CIF North Coast Section Class A playoff appearances.
There’s every reason to believe the Saints will be there once again in 2008.
In fact, Gallegos went as far to say that he anticipates his team to be the best in both the North Central League I North and South divisions.
In fact, Gallegos went as far to say that he anticipates his team to be the best in both the North Central League I North and South divisions.
St. Helena resides in the South division.
“Our goal is to have a good preseason before league and to see if we can get past the second round of the playoffs,” Gallegos said.
The Saints are led by returning center midfielder Danny Almanza, whom Gallegos likens to a quarterback on a football team.
Juan Tellez returns as a left wing player also willing to play on the backline if need be.
Michel Arroyo and Bryan Marin were called up last season as freshmen.
Gallegos also expects Ewen Hungerford to land a starting role and help Almanza as a center midfielder. Almanza figures to have plenty of offensive help courtesy of Jorge Mora, who is a wing player that led the Saints in scoring a year ago.
Gallegos boasts a returner at goalkeeper in Tony Perez.
Jaime Medina has shown maturity and a willingness to play on the backline. Gallegos sees Medina as a potentially dominant player.
The loss of Rafael Torres — who was the NCL I MVP primarily because of his defense — creates a hole that Gallegos believes Franco Sanchez and Tony Manzo are capable of filling.
Jaime Vasquez and Ismael Aguayo, whom Gallegos called up to varsity for the playoffs, will be counted on for backline help.
St. Helena Girls
Saints coach Milton Gallegos is a stickler for defense, or so it seems.
“Even though it’s been our reputation, we don’t do it on purpose,” Gallegos said, referring to the fact that the Saints have had stellar defenses under his watch as head coach since 2002. “We just end up getting good defenders who seal the backline. Because of our inexperience this year in the midfield and forwards, the defense has to be that much better. We’re not going to win 5-0, 6-0. They will probably be hard-fought 2-1, 1-0 games.”
The Saints have reached the postseason in five of Gallegos’ six seasons at the helm.
This year, Gallegos has called up five players from the JV team: Holle DePina (forward), Lydia Erickson (left fullback), Logan Santillano (midfielder), Adrianna Deharo (center fullback) and Monica Olguin (goalkeeper).
The loss of goalkeeper Alice Plant, who was a four-year varsity starter, creates a huge hole but nonetheless Gallegos likes the veteran backline nucleus of Reagan Blackwood, Morgan Duarte and Kate Wignall.
Gallegos is high on Duarte’s ability to defend and Wignall’s ability to be a leader as well as being versatile enough to play center midfielder.
Center midfielder Viri DeLoera was lost to graduation but Gallegos is counting on Itzel DeSantiago to fill that role.
Kaelin O’Kelly fits in as either a wing midfielder or center midfielder. Brit Thompson and Anabel Torres could see some time as wing midfielders. Lesley Ramirez will log time as a midfielder while sophomore Sarah Brink will be the team’s primary forward. Sophia Cahua (defender) and Marissa Crump (midfielder) round out the roster.
Calistoga Boys
The Wildcats have qualified for the CIF North Coast Section Class A playoffs in every season since 2002.
The catch, however, is can this team enjoy even more postseason success?
They won the North Central League II crown for three years running from 2003-2005.
Edwin Meza scored an eye-popping 55 goals last season, shattering Beto Mendoza’s record of 34 set in 2005.
Yet for all of these achievements, Calistoga has struggled in the playoffs in going just 2-6 in that span.
Carlos Garcia returns for his third season as the Wildcats head man and would like nothing more to see playoff success to go along with its presumed regular season success.
“We’re working hard,” Garcia said. “First we need to get on the field. They seem to want to go a little farther this year. There are some good teams out there.”
The Wildcats have numerous returning players such as Meza (forward), who was the Offensive Player of the Year on the All-Napa County team.
Defenders Mario Sanchez and Zach Smith are two Honorable Mention All-County players that Garcia will count on to contribute as backline players.
Enrique Uribe (defender), Omar Espinoza (midfielder), Eric Lopez (defender), Sigi Carrillo (forward), Fabian Duenas (forward), Ian Scerri-Martin (defender), Luis Fernando Avila (forward), Gaby Covarrubias (defender), Hugo Vargas (midfielder), Cristian Escobedo (goalkeeper), Ivan Ortiz (defender), and Javier Carrillo (midfielder) are also key returning players.
Mauricio Gutierrez (goalkeeper), Eric Yanez (defender), Tony Zamora (defender), Alejandro Ruiz (midfielder) and Noel Ortiz (forward) are the newcomers.
Calistoga Girls
The Wildcats get a clean slate for the 2008 season, and the new start includes a new coach in Stephanie Dietz.
Courtney King stepped down after three seasons, and Calistoga went 4-10 in 2007.
Dietz, who teaches physical education at Calistoga High, coached the past five seasons at Madera High.
She mainly wants to see continued improvement this fall.
“We want to leave the field feeling good about ourselves and how we played,” Dietz said.
“I think showing improvement every game is the most important thing. My motto and something I really like to live by is that soccer is a game. Practice is for hard work and your hard work will pay off in the game. So you should have fun come game-time.”
Allison Fellion (defender), Lucie Stambor (forward/midfielder), Jenna Reynolds (forward), Emily Johnson (forward/midfielder), Roxanne Rubio (midfielder/defender), Laurel Oekter-Kast (defender/goalkeeper), Yessenia Romero (defender) and Rody Lilly (forward) are returning players from last season. Reynolds, who is a junior, will be counted on to provide offense.
Fellion could also see time as a midfielder. Stambor has been a forward in the past but could see time as a midfielder. Dietz also is seeking a goal
keeper because junior Megan Hunt, who occupied that spot the last two years, has opted to play volleyball.
Oekter-Kast and Leticia Avina will likely be given ample opportunity to fill that void.
The roster also includes Naib Tapia (defender), Monica Sherwood (defender/midfielder), Leslie Castillo (midfielder), Estefani Quevedo (forward/midfielder), Lissette Curiel (midfielder), Kali Sherman (forward), Amy Finney, Angie Mewhorter (defender/midfielder), Alex Vera (midfielder), Avina (forward) and Martha Ayala (midfielder).
“Our goal is to have a good preseason before league and to see if we can get past the second round of the playoffs,” Gallegos said.
The Saints are led by returning center midfielder Danny Almanza, whom Gallegos likens to a quarterback on a football team.
Juan Tellez returns as a left wing player also willing to play on the backline if need be.
Michel Arroyo and Bryan Marin were called up last season as freshmen.
Gallegos also expects Ewen Hungerford to land a starting role and help Almanza as a center midfielder. Almanza figures to have plenty of offensive help courtesy of Jorge Mora, who is a wing player that led the Saints in scoring a year ago.
Gallegos boasts a returner at goalkeeper in Tony Perez.
Jaime Medina has shown maturity and a willingness to play on the backline. Gallegos sees Medina as a potentially dominant player.
The loss of Rafael Torres — who was the NCL I MVP primarily because of his defense — creates a hole that Gallegos believes Franco Sanchez and Tony Manzo are capable of filling.
Jaime Vasquez and Ismael Aguayo, whom Gallegos called up to varsity for the playoffs, will be counted on for backline help.
St. Helena Girls
Saints coach Milton Gallegos is a stickler for defense, or so it seems.
“Even though it’s been our reputation, we don’t do it on purpose,” Gallegos said, referring to the fact that the Saints have had stellar defenses under his watch as head coach since 2002. “We just end up getting good defenders who seal the backline. Because of our inexperience this year in the midfield and forwards, the defense has to be that much better. We’re not going to win 5-0, 6-0. They will probably be hard-fought 2-1, 1-0 games.”
The Saints have reached the postseason in five of Gallegos’ six seasons at the helm.
This year, Gallegos has called up five players from the JV team: Holle DePina (forward), Lydia Erickson (left fullback), Logan Santillano (midfielder), Adrianna Deharo (center fullback) and Monica Olguin (goalkeeper).
The loss of goalkeeper Alice Plant, who was a four-year varsity starter, creates a huge hole but nonetheless Gallegos likes the veteran backline nucleus of Reagan Blackwood, Morgan Duarte and Kate Wignall.
Gallegos is high on Duarte’s ability to defend and Wignall’s ability to be a leader as well as being versatile enough to play center midfielder.
Center midfielder Viri DeLoera was lost to graduation but Gallegos is counting on Itzel DeSantiago to fill that role.
Kaelin O’Kelly fits in as either a wing midfielder or center midfielder. Brit Thompson and Anabel Torres could see some time as wing midfielders. Lesley Ramirez will log time as a midfielder while sophomore Sarah Brink will be the team’s primary forward. Sophia Cahua (defender) and Marissa Crump (midfielder) round out the roster.
Calistoga Boys
The Wildcats have qualified for the CIF North Coast Section Class A playoffs in every season since 2002.
The catch, however, is can this team enjoy even more postseason success?
They won the North Central League II crown for three years running from 2003-2005.
Edwin Meza scored an eye-popping 55 goals last season, shattering Beto Mendoza’s record of 34 set in 2005.
Yet for all of these achievements, Calistoga has struggled in the playoffs in going just 2-6 in that span.
Carlos Garcia returns for his third season as the Wildcats head man and would like nothing more to see playoff success to go along with its presumed regular season success.
“We’re working hard,” Garcia said. “First we need to get on the field. They seem to want to go a little farther this year. There are some good teams out there.”
The Wildcats have numerous returning players such as Meza (forward), who was the Offensive Player of the Year on the All-Napa County team.
Defenders Mario Sanchez and Zach Smith are two Honorable Mention All-County players that Garcia will count on to contribute as backline players.
Enrique Uribe (defender), Omar Espinoza (midfielder), Eric Lopez (defender), Sigi Carrillo (forward), Fabian Duenas (forward), Ian Scerri-Martin (defender), Luis Fernando Avila (forward), Gaby Covarrubias (defender), Hugo Vargas (midfielder), Cristian Escobedo (goalkeeper), Ivan Ortiz (defender), and Javier Carrillo (midfielder) are also key returning players.
Mauricio Gutierrez (goalkeeper), Eric Yanez (defender), Tony Zamora (defender), Alejandro Ruiz (midfielder) and Noel Ortiz (forward) are the newcomers.
Calistoga Girls
The Wildcats get a clean slate for the 2008 season, and the new start includes a new coach in Stephanie Dietz.
Courtney King stepped down after three seasons, and Calistoga went 4-10 in 2007.
Dietz, who teaches physical education at Calistoga High, coached the past five seasons at Madera High.
She mainly wants to see continued improvement this fall.
“We want to leave the field feeling good about ourselves and how we played,” Dietz said.
“I think showing improvement every game is the most important thing. My motto and something I really like to live by is that soccer is a game. Practice is for hard work and your hard work will pay off in the game. So you should have fun come game-time.”
Allison Fellion (defender), Lucie Stambor (forward/midfielder), Jenna Reynolds (forward), Emily Johnson (forward/midfielder), Roxanne Rubio (midfielder/defender), Laurel Oekter-Kast (defender/goalkeeper), Yessenia Romero (defender) and Rody Lilly (forward) are returning players from last season. Reynolds, who is a junior, will be counted on to provide offense.
Fellion could also see time as a midfielder. Stambor has been a forward in the past but could see time as a midfielder. Dietz also is seeking a goal
keeper because junior Megan Hunt, who occupied that spot the last two years, has opted to play volleyball.
Oekter-Kast and Leticia Avina will likely be given ample opportunity to fill that void.
The roster also includes Naib Tapia (defender), Monica Sherwood (defender/midfielder), Leslie Castillo (midfielder), Estefani Quevedo (forward/midfielder), Lissette Curiel (midfielder), Kali Sherman (forward), Amy Finney, Angie Mewhorter (defender/midfielder), Alex Vera (midfielder), Avina (forward) and Martha Ayala (midfielder).
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