The Castle Park High School boys soccer team is off to a 2-0 start in Mesa League play after defeating San Ysidro and Bonita Vista by scores of 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.
The Trojans resume league play Jan. 8 when they host Montgomery.
Tony Castro scored two goals and Mauro Estolano tacked on another goal as Castle Park blanked host San Ysidro in the teams’ league opener on Dec. 18. Ivan Garduno and Pedro Martinez received credit for assists while goalkeeper Oswaldo Padilla made five saves to record the shutout victory.
Facing a Bonita Vista team coming off a 2-0 loss at Southwest in its league opener, the Trojans scored goals midway through each half to propel themselves to a 2-0 start in league play.
Luis Galaviz emerged from a collapsing pocket of Bonita Vista defenders to slot a shot inside the far post at the 20-minute mark of the first half. Castro scored on a penalty kick 20 minutes into the second half.
Padilla made five saves to record his second consecutive shutout in league play.
Trojan head coach Jose Cobian Jr. called the win over the Barons (0-2 in league, 1-4-1 overall) a “total defensive and team effort.”
“We’re on the right track,” said Cobian, whose team kicked off its season with a 3-1 non-league loss at Mater Dei Catholic on Dec. 6. “It’s a result of their hard work and commitment. We have a lot to work on but I feel happy about the fruits of their labor (coming to fruition).”
Castle Park finished 7-13-3 last season, including a 3-7-2 record in league play that placed them seventh (in last place) in the league standings. The Trojans did not qualify for the San Diego Section playoffs.
Cobian, who has been involved with the CPHS coaching staff since 2007, believes his team has the potential to move up the standings in 2019-20.
This season’s team is braced by senior returners Roberto Parra, Victor Damian Jr., Nicolas Magaña and Garduno, the team’s leading scorer the past two seasons.
“We want to compete for the banner and want to compete in CIF,” Cobian said. “We have a strong senior class. We just need to put it together. We have good chemistry. The talent is here. We have that as our main focus and see how much the kids are willing to work.”
Last Friday’s game was important in that both teams are vying for position in the Division III playoffs this season. The teams rematch Jan. 29 at Bonita Vista High School when seeding positions will be more apparent.
Bonita Vista finished 9-10-2 last season, 7-5-0 in league play to place second in the league standings behind team champion Eastlake (9-2-1 in league play, 12-7-2 overall). The Barons received the No. 12 seed in last season’s Division II playoffs and were eliminated in their opening match, 4-1, by fifth-seeded Santana.
Athletic director Jason Murphy takes over the reins as head coach this year after last playing for the Barons in 1989. He said he’s hoping to instill more discipline and structure in the team this season to improve the team’s on-field performance.
Bonita Vista kicked off the season with a 4-3 non-league win over visiting Gompers Prep Academy on Dec. 2. The Barons led 4-1 at halftime before conceding two second-half goals.
In subsequent games, Bonita Vista tied visiting Mar Vista, 3-3, on Dec. 3, lost 1-0 to Mater Dei Catholic on Dec. 11 and came up short by a 3-1 score at Hilltop on Dec. 16.
Corner kicks
Castle Park will host Helix Jan. 4 at 10 a.m. in a make-up game.
Montgomery defeated visiting Otay Ranch, 3-1, in its league opener last Friday.
Eastlake improved to 2-0 in league play after defeating Otay Ranch and San Ysidro by identical 3-1 scores.
Mesa League Standings
(Through Dec. 20)
Castle Park Trojans 2-0-0
Eastlake Titans 2-0-0
Montgomery Aztecs 1-0-0
Southwest Raiders 1-0-0
Bonita Vista Barons 0-2-0
Otay Ranch Mustangs 0-2-0
San Ysidro Cougars 0-2-0
San Diego Section Top 10 Rankings
Division I: 1. Torrey Pines (4-1), 2. Cathedral Catholic (5-0-1), 3. Point Loma (7-3-0), 4. Del Norte (5-2-2), 5. Westview (5-2-3), 6. San Pasqual (4-2-2), 7. Coronado (3-12), 8. Canyon Crest Academy (4-2-4), 9. Poway (6-4-2), 10. St. Augustine (3-2-3)
Division II: 1. San Diego (6-1-1), 2. West Hills (4-1-4), 3. San Dieguito Academy (5-2-1), 4. Montgomery (5-2-1), 5. Southwest (3-1-1), 6. Helix (3-1-2), 7. Valley Center (3-2-2), 8. Valhalla (6-5-2), 9. Calexico (4-3-2), 10. Orange Glen (5-2-1)
Division III: 1. Hilltop (9-1-3), 2. Mission Bay (3-0-2), 3. Escondido (5-0-2), 4. Grossmont (8-2-1), 5. Monte Vista (6-1-1), 6. Sweetwater (6-1-3), 7. Patrick Henry (3-1-2), 8. Vista (4-1-2), 9. Rancho Buena Vista (3-1-2), 10, La Jolla Country Day (4-2-3)
Division IV: 1. Mater Dei Catholic (8-0-1), 2. Clairemont (6-0-1), 3. Chula Vista Learning Community Charter (4-1), 4. Francis Parker (4-1), 5. Steele Canyon (6-3-1), 6. Mira Mesa (3-2-2), 7. Brawley (5-2-4), 8. Madison (5-5), 9. Holtville (5-2-3), 10. Gompers Prep Academy (2-4-1)
Division V: 1. Kearny (5-3), 2. High Tech High San Diego (6-2), 3. Mar Vista (3-1-2), 4. Bayfront Charter (4-1-1), 5. Escondido Charter (5-3), 6. Liberty Charter (3-2-1), 7. Foothills Christian (6-5), 8. High Tech High North County (4-3), 9. Guajome Park Academy (1-4-1), 10. Maranatha Christian (3-1-2)
Photo Gallery by Phillip Brents
