How’s this for a real Cinderella story?
From an 0-14 start to one of the hottest teams in San Diego County right now, the Hilltop High School boys soccer team secured the 2015-16 Metro-Pacific League championship on Wednesday after playing to a scoreless draw at Chula Vista High School.
The Lancers remained undefeated in their last six outings, including five in league play. Hilltop (4-0-1 in league play, 5-14-1 overall) enters Friday’s final regular season match at Castle Park with a five-point lead over the second place Spartans (2-2-2 in league play) in the league standings.
The nil-nil draw tops off the 2-1 victory the Lancers posted two weeks ago against Chula Vista in the first round of league play.
“These boys have worked really hard to get here,” HHS head coach John Salts explained. “We had to place a lot of responsibility on a bunch of young talent this year, asking them to step up and fill the void created by graduation. They took their lumps early against the best teams in the county — we have the second hardest strength of schedule in Division I this season — but it made them stronger now.
“Through thick and thin, they had each others’ back and maintained great chemistry and that is our true secret to success. These boys are an amazing group of young men and coach Larry Shipley and myself are blessed to be along for the ride.”
Salts said his team bonded early on with team activities such as helping a those-in-need program where team members delivered food, clothing and gifts to families at Christmas.
“They are always finding ways to spend time together and it is great to see,” Salts explained.
This is Hilltop’s fourth league championship in the past six years and first Metro-Pacific League banner.
Community outreach
Hilltop’s kickers collected clothing, shoes, blankets, jackets, made sandwhiches, brought water and other food items, brought gifts for children and headed to east Village in downtown San Diego on Dec. 2 to give back and share with those who have a need in there lives at this time.
“Our boys were accompanied by parents and siblings.
“This has become a family affair for us,” Salts explained. “It is a wonderful way for our families to connect through helping others. To see how a little good will can bring so much comfort and joy into someone’s heart is simply amazing. To be able to watch a teenager take part in this and to walk away with a full heart is just awesome.”
Metro Conference
Boys Soccer Standings
(Through Feb. 17)
Metro-Pacific League
Hilltop 4-0-1, 5-14-1
Chula Vista 2-2-2, 6-8-7
Sweetwater 2-3-0, 7-8-2
Castle Park 0-4-1, 7-10-2
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Sweetwater 3, Castle Park 2
Hilltop 0, Chula Vista 0
Metro-Mesa League
Mater Dei Catholic 6-1-0, 11-8-1
Eastlake 5-2-1, 13-5-4
Bonita Vista 4-1-2, 10-4-4
Olympian 0-5-2, 2-10-8
Otay Ranch 0-6-1, 5-11-1
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Eastlake 4, Olympian 1
Bonita Vista 5, Otay Ranch 2
Metro-South Bay League
San Ysidro 5-1-0, 12-3-2
Southwest 3-1-1, 11-5-4
Montgomery 2-2-1, 9-5-5
Mar Vista 0-5-0, 3-16-1
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Southwest 3, Mar Vista 2
San Ysidro 1, Montgomery 0
Girls soccer
Eastlake defeated visiting Olympian, 5-0, on Wednesday to improve to 5-1-2 in Metro-Mesa League play. The Lady Titans remain one point ahead of Bonita Vista in the league standings after the Lady Barons (5-1-1 in league play) shut out visiting Otay Ranch, 2-0, on Wednesday.
Eastlake improved to 13-2-4 overall while Bonita Vista improved to 12-8-3 overall. Olympian (16-5-3 overall) is in third place with a 3-3-1 league record.
