League play faced off this week for Sweetwater district roller hockey teams and foremost among the opening-round winners were the Chula Vista Spartans and Otay Ranch Mustangs, both of which scored impressive victories.
The Spartans edged preseason favorite Castle Park, 7-6, on Tuesday in a fiercely contested match-up for the early lead in the South Bay League while Otay Ranch rolled past previously undefeated Hilltop by a score of 9-0 on Wednesday to roar into the Mesa League lead.
Both games were played at the Castle Park High School rink.
“It feels good to get the win, especially against a team that a number of coaches believed would be one of the top teams in the league,” CVHS coach Matt Diaz explained. “We went to work with three weeks of practices over the winter break to work on skills and playing together as a team. The individual skills have improved, and this is a team I enjoy to coach.”
The Spartans, who had occupied the lower tier of the South Bay League in preceding seasons, look to be a solid contender for this year’s league championship. Chula Vista built a 6-2 advantage on the scoreboard through two periods of play against the Trojans and then weathered a storm of four Castle Park goals in the final period to hang on to post the win, the first of the season for the Spartans.
Marvin Cirignano actually opened scoring in the game for the Trojans, but CV’s Hector Garcia scored off a pass from teammate Marco Garcia to place the league rivals in a 1-1 tie at the end of the first period.
The teams exchanged goals to open the second period, with David Garcia scoring on a breakaway to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead before Jacob Ayala scored to even the game for Castle Park.
Chula Vista then reeled off four unanswered goals to go up 6-2. Hector Garcia scored the first three before David Garcia scored off a pass from Marco Garcia to close the period.
The Trojans countered by scoring the opening three goals of the third period, with Cirignano narrowing his team’s deficit to 6-5 with 2:07 left in the game. With the Spartans now nursing a tenuous one-goal lead with all the momentum having seemingly swung to the side of Castle Park, David Garcia gave Chula Vista some much needed breathing room by scoring on another breakaway with 34 seconds to play.
Cirignano scored off the ensuing face-off to trim the CV lead to 7-6 with 23 seconds left. However, the Trojans could not net the equalizer to send the game into overtime.
Hector Garcia scored four goals to lead the Spartans while David Garcia had three goals and Marco Garcia finished the game with three assists.
“I hope we can go as far as we can,” Diaz said. “I know when these two teams play again that it will be an intense game. The very next game we play (Thursday against Mar Vista) will be a very intense game for us. I’m looking forward to that game.”
Chula Vista (1-0 in league) improved to 1-4 on the season while Castle Park (0-1 in league) dropped to 1-2 on the season.
Hector Garcia leads the Spartans in scoring with six goals while David Garcia has four goals and one assist through five games while Cirignano tops the Trojans with six goals in three games.
Raiders still remain team to beat for South Bay League title
While Chula Vista defeated Castle Park to start 1-0 in league play, both teams will have to get past defending league champion Southwest if they have designs on capturing this year’s league title.
The Raiders successfully opened defense of their South Bay League championship by defeating the Sweetwater Red Devils, 6-1, in game action also on Tuesday. Josh Lopez scored three goals and Eric Lechuga scored twice to lead the Raiders, who picked up their first win of the season in the process.
Lopez scored the opening goal of the game, followed by two goals from Lechuga, to push Southwest to an early 3-0 lead. Lopez scored his second goal, assisted by teammate Victor Hernandez, to put Southwest ahead 4-0 before the Red Devils ended the period with a goal of their own by Leo Vargas, assisted by Luis Trevino.
Lopez completed his hat trick by scoring the first goal of the second period and Ian Hernandez, assisted by Lopez, scored the next goal of the game to place the Raiders comfortably ahead on the scoreboard by a margin of 6-1.
There was no scoring in the third period.
Jose Andrade allowed just one goal by Sweetwater in defending the Southwest cage.
The Raiders improved to 1-0 in league play, 1-4 overall, while the Red Devils dropped to 0-1 in league play, 0-3 overall.
Lopez leads Southwest in season scoring with three goals and two assists.
Mustangs march into Mesa League lead with booming 9-0 shutout win over Lancers
Perhaps no other team turned in a more impressive showing in its league opener than did Otay Ranch in its shutout win over Hilltop. The Mustangs dominated from the opening whistle, playing half-court for long periods of the game while on the offensive attack.
The Mustangs led 2-0 at the end of the first period but advanced their lead on the scoreboard to 6-0 with four goals in the second period.
“We still need to improve in some areas but the guys wanted to come out today to show that they were No. 1 in the league,” ORHS coach Adrian Rodriguez explained in regard to his team’s explosive showing on the scoreboard. “We hope to move up (in the conference rankings) as the season goes on.”
Dynamos for the Mustangs included Devyn Taras (three goals, two assists), David Mendez (three goals, two assists) and Ricky Portilla (two goals). Mendez scored his hat trick goal while short-handed.
Taras, who plays ice hockey for the San Diego Jr. Gulls 18U-AAA team, leads Otay Ranch in scoring with 13 goals and 18 assists while Mendez has accumulated 15 goals and three assists and Portilla has notched seven goals and five assists.
Titans stay unbeaten after posting 17-0, 17-1 wins
The Eastlake Titans remained undefeated on the season at 5-0 after defeating the Mar Vista Mariners, 17-0, in a non-league game on Tuesday and then facing off Mesa League play with a 17-1 victory against longtime rival Bonita Vista on Wednesday.
Eastlake 17, Mar Vista 0
Sam Bawden led the Titans with 10 points on five goals and five assists in the win over Mar Vista while teammate Aaron Mayer contributed seven points on five goals and two assists. The ice hockey teammates showcased their teamwork by combining on six of their team’s six goals.
Team captain Sean Layton had two goals and one assist while Brian Anderson and William Hamilton each scored two goals in support for Eastlake. Michael Mechling chipped in with a goal and assist while Brandon Benson had two assists and Percilla Mayer picked up one assist.
The Titans led 6-0 after the first period and 15-0 after two periods.
Mar Vista fell to 0-3 on the season in non-league play.
Eastlake 17, Bonita Vista 1
The opening minutes proved to be an equal standoff with chances by both teams before the Titans quickly gained territorial advantage, though not overly so, as the Barons continued to put together rushes up court.
BV netminder Hawk Anderson blocked the bulk of shots he faced in the game, but Eastlake’s shooters found their marks on rebounds and tap-ins to race ahead on the scoreboard. The defending Mesa League champion Titans led, 5-0, at the end of the first period and, 11-1, at the end of two periods.
Bonita Vista made the score 7-1 on a goal by Matt Custudio midway through the second stanza, assisted by Angel Ortega. The goal generated loud cheers from Baron supporters. But the Titans quickly went back to work in closing out the game with 10 unanswered goals.
Defending conference scoring champion Aaron Mayer paced the potent Eastlake offense with seven goals and three assists for 10 points while Sam Bawden contributed four goals and two assists, Michael Mechling had two goals and 1 assist, Seiya Hagiya had two goals, Brandon Benson and Percilla Mayer each scored one goal and Brian Anderson had one assist.
Bawden (34 points) and Aaron Mayer (33 points) are in a friendly battle for the team scoring lead. Bawden has 19 goals and 15 assists while Mayer has 25 goals and eight assists.
In games played at the Escondido Sports Center on Wednesday, Jan. 14:
Westview 16, Poway 7
Josh Morrison led the victorious Wolverines with six goals while teammates Keisi Takaya, Dallas Oleson and Scott Hord each scored two goals in the North County Legue game. Eric Wright led Poway with five goals while Charlie Liebman had two goals for the Titans.
Rancho Bernardo 13, Scripps Ranch 5
Spencer Ridout collected four goals and two assists and Alex Pelliter had three goals and 2 assists to keep the Broncos undefeated on the season. Jesse Lycan tallied one goal and three assists for the Falcons in the North County League match-up.
Cathedral Catholic 20, La Jolla Country Day 0
Drew Jones led the Dons with four goals and three assists while Sam Angeles had six goals and two assists and Will Daveney contributed one goal and three assists in the Central League contest.
Sweetwater District Team Records
(Through Jan. 16, 2015)
Eastlake Titans 6-0
Otay Ranch Mustangs 5-1
Hilltop Lancers 5-1
Bonita Vista Barons 4-2
Castle Park Trojans 2-3
Mar Vista Mariners 1-3
Chula Vista Spartans 1-6
Southwest Raiders 1-5
Sweetwater Red Devils 0-5
CIF-Metro Conference Standings
(Through Jan. 16, 2015)
Mesa League Standings
Eastlake Titans 1-0, 6-0
Otay Ranch Mustangs 1-0, 5-1
Hilltop Lancers 0-1, 5-1
Bonita Vista Barons 0-1, 4-2
South Bay League Standings
Mar Vista Mariners 1-0, 1-3
Southwest Raiders 1-0, 1-4
Castle Park Trojans 1-1, 2-3
Chula Vista Spartans 1-1, 1-6
Sweetwater Red Devils 0-2, 0-5
Central League Standings
Cathedral Catholic Dons 3-0, 4-2
St. Augustine Saints 3-1, 4-6
West Hills Wolf Pack 1-3, 1-7
La Jolla Country Day Torreys 0-3, 0-7
North County League Standings
Rancho Bernardo Broncos 4-0, 8-0
Westview Wolverines 2-1, 6-2
Poway Titans 1-1, 5-1
Scripps Ranch 0-4, 3-4 (*1 overtime loss)
CIF-Metro Conference Scoreboard
Monday, Jan. 12
Non-League
Poway 8, Cathedral Catholic 4
Scripps Ranch 9, West Hills 3
Westview 7, St. Augustine 0
Tuesday, Jan. 13
South Bay League
Southwest 6, Sweetwater 1
Chula Vista 7, Castle Park 6
Non-League
Eastlake 17, Mar Vista 0
Wednesday, Jan. 14
Mesa League
Otay Ranch 9, Hilltop 0
Eastlake 17, Bonita Vista 1
North County League
Westview 16, Poway, 7
Rancho Bernardo 13, Scripps Ranch 5
Central League
Cathedral Catholic 20, LJCD 0
St. Augustine 6, West Hills 5
Thursday, Jan. 15
South Bay League
Mar Vista 5, Chula Vista 4
Castle Park 10, Sweetwater 0
Non-League
Hilltop 5, Southwest 3
Friday, Jan. 16
Non-League
Bonita Vista 6, Sweetwater 0
Eastlake 21, Castle Park 0
Otay Ranch 8, Chula Vista 4
CIF-Metro Conference Rankings
(Through Jan. 16, 2015)
1. Rancho Bernardo Broncos (8-0)
2. Westview Wolverines (6-2)
3. Cathedral Catholic Dons (4-2)
4. Poway Titans (5-1)
5. Scripps Ranch Falcons (3-4)
6. St. Augustine Saints (4-6)
7. West Hills Wolf Pack (1-7)
8. Eastlake Titans (6-0)
9. Otay Ranch Mustangs (5-1)
10. La Jolla Country Day Torreys (0-7)
11. Hilltop Lancers (5-1)
12. Castle Park Trojans (2-3)
13. Bonita Vista Barons (4-2)
CIF-Metro Conference Scoring Leaders
Sweeetwater district schools
(Through Jan. 16, 2015)
Player, team
Aaron Mayer (Eastlake) 32 goals, 12 assists – 44 points
Sam Bawden (Eastlake) 25 goals, 17 assists – 42 points
Devyn Taras (Otay Ranch) 17 goals, 21 assists – 38 points
Michael Mechling (Eastlake) 17 goals, 9 assists – 26 points
David Mendez (Otay Ranch) 18 goals, 4 assists – 22 points
Andrew Tesner (Hilltop) 11 goals, 4 assists – 15 points
Danny Godinez (Hilltop) 7 goals, 8 assists – 15 points
Ricardo Portilla (Otay Ranch) 7 goals, 6 assists – 13 points
Marvin Cirignano (Castle Park) 10 goals – 10 points
David Garcia (Chula Vista) 8 goals, 2 assists – 10 points
Hector Garcia (Chula Vista) 8 goals, 2 assists – 10 points
Leo Gurrola (Bonita Vista) 8 goals, 1 assist – 9 points
Jacob Ayala (Castle Park) 6 goals, 3 assists – 9 points
Sean Layton (Eastlake) 6 goals, 3 assists – 9 points
Brian Anderson (Eastlake) 5 goals, 2 assists – 7 points
Joshua Lopez (Southwest) 5 goals, 2 assists – 7 points
Matt Custudio (Bonita Vista) 5 goals, 2 assists – 7 points
Percilla Mayer (Eastlake) 4 goals, 3 assists – 7 points
Brandon Benson (Eastlake) 3 goals, 4 assists – 7 points
