The Chula Vista High School boys soccer team chalked up two more wins on the pitch this past week to extend its record to 12-2-3. The first one, 2-1 on Tuesday at Montgomery, was highlight reel quality. The second one, 3-0 at home on Thursday against Mar Vista, was less well received by head coach Ruben Oliveira.
“We did not play well at all,” Oliveira said after Thursday’s non-league contest. “But the game against Montgomery, we won it in the final minute. It was a good game. Montgomery is having a great season like us.”
Oliveira expected more from his team on Thursday. The Spartans led just, 1-0, heading into the final 10 minutes of the match.
“We were missing a few starters in our line-up, games like this happen,” the CVHS coach explained.
Orlando Vazquez scored two goals on Thursday while teammate Fernando Aguila scored once in support of goalkeeper Eduardo Rochin, who was credited with the shutout win.
Oliveira noted his team was missing its top scorer on the season, another striker and starting goalkeeper David Loya. “Not that we lost much in the net, I think Eduardo Rochin is a fine goalie in his own right,” the CVHS coach noted.
Mar Vista dropped to 4-9-3 after Thursday’s loss; the Mariners host defending Division IV champion San Ysidro (9-3-2) on Tuesday, Feb. 3, to kick off Metro-South Bay League play.
Montgomery entered Thursday’s non-league at Castle Park (10-4-1) with a 10-4-3 overall record. The Aztecs kick off Metro-South Bay League play on Tuesday, Feb. 3, with a road match at reigning Southern California state champion Southwest.
Chula Vista is bidding for a top seed in this year’s Open Division playoffs. “We were ranked No. 1 in the county for a while and now we’re No. 2 in the county,” Oliveira said. “We’re hoping to get home field throughout the playoffs if we can finish either No. 1 or No. 2.”
Motivation is a big thing right now, the CVHS coach stressed.
“The big thing right now is to get them humble and hungry,” Oliveira said. “We lost our first two games to open the season, had a big showing at the Oceanside tournament (Southern California Classic) over winter break, and have continued to win or tie games since.”
The Spartans, currently on a 15-game unbeaten streak (12-0-3), kick off Metro-Pacific League play Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Sweetwater (1-9-2) and host Hilltop (5-7-5) on Thursday, Feb. 5. Oliveira said the team’s season starts over at 0-0.
“Our goal is to win our upcoming league play and then to win CIF, and go on to win state,” the CVHS coach explained. “Our league is tough, and we’re going to have to work hard. But I think we do have the team to do that.
“Once we get healthier, get some players back, we should do better.”
Cornerkicks
Aguila and Vazquez each scored goals in Tuesday’s game at Montgomery. Aguila’s tally was the game-winner.
Bonita Vista and Otay Ranch played to a 2-2 tie in Thursday’s Metro-Mesa League match-up, leaving the Barons with 0-2-1 record to start league play after opening the season 9-3-3 in non-league games. Otay Ranch extended its league record to 2-1-0, 7-4-4 overall.
