53 Responses to “East Bay All-League Soccer”

1. Waterboy Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 9:27 am

   Thanks Matt

   That is a lot of work!!!

2. defense_mom Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 10:34 am

   Thanks Matt for all your write ups the entire season.

   What a way to end it off with our own club league Santos having 12 of our players receving awards shows alot of the talent on this team congrats boys:
   Lalo Aguilar- livermore high
   Garrett foster- Granada
   Ricky salazar- granada
   Guillermor Rivas- Cal
   Jacob Boyd- Livermore
   Ben Danielson- Cal
   Chris Gonzales- Livermore
   Jonathon Yankowski-Foothill
   Matheus Menezes- Dougherty Valley
   Jamie Sommerville- Dublin
   Nico Portugal- Dublin
   Grant Matsumoto- Doutherty Valley

   Great job boys and Seniors of all the noted high school teams. Good luck in the future in college and the continuation of next years high school team!!

3. ebal dad Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 5:45 pm

   Defense Mom, Is the Santos a U17 Team? Looks like a very good team.

4. ebal fan Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 7:47 pm

   Biggest snub in EBAL is Rawls.

5. ebal fan Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 8:02 pm

   Also,
   I don’t agree with Wes as the MVP was he the best player on the best team yes, but I think Rivas was more important to his team.

6. ptown Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 8:02 pm

   Matt,
   Thank you for posting the All League Teams and all your great support covering NCS Soccer this year.

7. soccerislife Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 10:26 pm

   #2, Santos is a u17 team.

8. Soccer Fan Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 11:06 pm

   I disagree with the Rivas comment. Look at Rivas stats. He needs to play more team play. Yes, he can finish and he is great at positioning himself where he needs to be for success, but he needs to improve his assists to goals ratio in the position he plays in. More team play. Too many missed opportunities for assists.

   Wes is the more complete player at this time.

9. Soccer Fan Says:
   March 4th, 2010 at 11:13 pm

   I agree with 4 on the Rawls rawl-deal! Wow! Considering his stats and his Athlete of the Week award and how his team finished compared to last year it is amazing that he only ends up tied for 3rd??!! WOW!

10. The Sweeper Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 12:14 am

    Matt,

    I can’t wait for your all East Bay team. You have exceeded all expectations this season regarding your depth of coverage and quality of analysis, bar none in any HS sport.

    I am going to weigh in consistent with our blog dialog after the semis, and face-to-face at the 3A finals.

    I agree with #4 regarding Rawls at the keeper level, though SRV did score regularly and often due exploitable weaknesses in the Cal defense.

    I must weigh in regarding THE WORST CALL OF THE SEASON (PERIOD). The whole 3A/D1 playoff scenario was spoiled by the inappropriate red card call in the semifinal Cal v. SRV match. Cal fans have intentionally withheld their video of “the play” from public review, so their claims are totally discredited.

    BTW, in response to a query to the SRV player that was posted regarding yellow and red cards called on TT: for me I only saw 9 SRV matches this year

    @Gran (1-1)
    Cal (3-0)
    Rich (2-2)
    @MV (3-0)
    DLS (1-2)
    ACAL (1-1)

    in the downpour, and by my count TT was yellow carded 3 time (2 verbal), and red carded 0, prior to the bogus call from ref-red. If SRV wins out, TT is in fact the POY, regardless of the wimps who discredit his talent.

11. The Sweeper Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 12:15 am

    RECALL #8, will repost

12. The Sweeper Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 12:50 am

    Matt,

    I can’t wait for your all East Bay soccer teams, 3A and 2A. You have exceeded all expectations this season regarding your depth of coverage and quality of analysis, bar none in any HS sport.

    I am going to weigh in consistent with our blog dialog after the semis, and face-to-face at the 3A finals.

    I agree with #4 regarding Rawls at the keeper level, though SRV did score regularly and often due an exploitable weaknesses in the Cal defense. DLS either did not exploit this or did not figure that out in the final, making it close at the end.

    I must weigh in regarding THE WORST CALL OF THE SEASON (PERIOD) after seeing 34 DI and DII matches. The whole 3A/D1 playoff scenario was spoiled by the inappropriate red card call in the semifinal Cal v. SRV match. Cal fans have intentionally withheld their video of “the play” from public review, so their claims are totally discredited.

    In direct response to a query to an SRV player that posted on this blog regarding the history of yellow and red cards called on TT, for me I only saw 9 SRV matches this year: Berk(1-1); Gran(1-1); Cal(3-0); Rich(2-2); @MV (3-0); DLS (1-2); ACAL (1-1); @Cal (2-2); Cal (3-4). In those matches the ref called 3 verbal yellows and 1 physical yellow on TT, until the totally unwarranted straight red card. DOH! What was this incompetent ref thinking?

    I would like to hear from Cokito regarding his opinion that TT is a “dirty player” because I respect his postings more than any other.

    From my perspective, during the 3A championship match, there were numerous challenges far more dangerous by Cal on DLS than the unwarranted red card on TT. What say you Bambam?

    Matt, would like to hear you weigh in on my claims to the extent that you can. Regardless, MATT IS THE BEST!!!

    All the best.

    –THE SWEEPER

13. The Sweeper Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 12:58 am

    Congrats to all players recognized in the all-league awards. For the seniors advancing to the next level, all the best, play well and represent the East Bay as a winner. We will be watching and admiring your talents.

14. yamon Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 7:51 am

    I like the logic behind your statement that because the one Cal fan with the aforementioned video is withholding it, all other Cal fans opinions are moot.

    That’s great 3rd grade logic

15. yamon Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 8:01 am

    Btw, I haven’t seen enough of Tow to tell you firsthand whether or not he is a dirty player. I’ve simply heard from Cal players that he was. And every one that called him dirty also called him extremely good and worthy of the All-East Bay team.

    Take it with a grain of salt though, my claims are totally discredited.

16. LakeTahoeGuy Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 8:27 am

    Matt, I know how these things can go, on these All League selections. One Coach fights really hard for one of his players, then another is fighting hard for his, then compromises have to be made….(I have first hand knowledge of that up here.)
    That being said, (hate to put you on the spot), do you see any glaring errors in any of the Leagues? Specifically, any players you think should have made First Team, that may have been slighted?
    I know you will come out with your All East Bay team down the road, but that has got to be even tougher than picking the All League selections.
    LTG

17. Soccer Fan Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 9:56 am

    Matt,
    Thanks for the great coverage of East Bay soccer this year.I have enjoyed the blog and your comments as well as all of the other participants postings.

    Congratulations and good job to all of the All League selections.

18. Rory Gentry Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 10:01 am

    The DVAL Defensive MVP went to Alexander Ortega of Ygnacio Valley. While he is a fine player, I must say that, in my opinion, Alejandro Chavez of my Clayton Valley team was the more qualified player. In league play, Clayton Valley only gave up EIGHT (8) goals in our 12 games and, of our TEN (10) wins, we posted SIX (6) shutouts and in the remaining FOUR (4) wins each team only scored ONE (1) goal per match. I can’t change the selection, but, I wanted to make sure that, at least in here where people understand soccer, that Alejandro gets some love.
    For the All-East Bay team, I certainly hope that Alejandro and our goal-keeper Dale Nelson gets defensive recognition. In our 24 matches we gave up 22 goals and posted 12 shutouts in 17 wins (.67 gpg). On offense, I am very confident that Joshua Gomez, our central midfielder, who led the East Bay with 25 assists and also scored 8 goals should be a lock for the All-East Bay team. I would also hope that our senior/freshman combination of “Happy” Avila and Elisama Padilla get some love for their 14 and 17 goals scored respectively along with a hat trick for both.
    Matt, again THANK YOU for bringing this Notebook for all of the high-school kids and their fans to learn more about and discuss ALL of the East Bay’s soccer teams rather than the old 1, 2 or 3 teams getting all the love. Keep up the GREAT work, Matt!
    Rory Gentry
    Clayton Valley Eagles

19. u-mustbeinsane Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 10:09 am

    Sweeper,

    you are absolutely right. I have only permitted my closest, personal Cal friends to view the video of the red card. Man, do I have a lot of friends! Over 125 viewed the original video clip even though it was posted for less than 24 hours. Another 325 of my co-conspirators have viewed it as a part of the video clip of the 2nd half highlights of the game.

    who knew I was so good at keeping a secret!

20. u-mustbeinsane Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 10:13 am

    As for the Rawls’ snub, all I will say on the subject is that most coaches are pretty clueless if they would rather compete against Rawls in goal than they would Thomas or Boyd.

21. ElPata Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Not a red. Eyes on ball, jumped straight up (you can see SRV player breakdown so that he *is* jumping straight up and not into opposing player), turned his body at the last moment to protect his chest, both players going hard and trying to win the 50/50. Video shows it.

    Oh well, done is done.

    Great year to all the players who competed, good luck with your club endeavors, see ya next November.

22. u-mustbeinsane Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 11:10 am

    #21
    Uh, the red was called on the elbow which you fail to mention. If there was no elbow to the neck than we all agree there should not have been a foul. The video shows the elbow.

    But I agree… done is done!

23. Soccer fan Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 11:14 am

    Some how I don’t think it is very dignified for a coach to lobby for players publicly especially when your league is rather weak and your “success” is dubious

24. ElPata Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 11:45 am

    #22

    Indeed. Either way, thanks for the video.

25. NCS dad Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 12:04 pm

    #20 I can appreciate your passion for rooting for your GK Rawls. Rawls is an excellent GK…very athletic and certainly one of the top EBAL Keepers deserving of recognition. The reality is EBAL is the most competitive league and one can make arguments for several additional players that could have/should have been 1st or 2nd Team. Granada’s Thomas and AVHS’ Copeman come to mind.

    Regarding the selection of AV’s Thomas at GK (no relation to Granada’s Thomas) there is a strong argument for the AVHS GK based on the following results:

    AVHS had 6 EBAL shutouts (tied with GHS for the most)
    CAL had 4 EBAL shutouts

    AVHS shutouts: SRV, DLS, GHS, MV, FH, FH
    CAL shutouts: MV, LHS, MV, LV

    3 of AVHS shutouts were against NCS Playoff teams
    CAL shutouts were against the weaker EBAL teams

    Overall Team Shutouts for the entire season:
    CAL: 10
    AVHS: 10

    EBAL Goals Scored:
    CAL 30
    AVHS 13

    EBAL Goals Allowed:
    CAL: 20
    AVHS: 14 (Thomas allowed 13)

    One could argue that AVHS having a weaker offense had to play more defense than the high scoring CAL offense. Congrats to CAL Team for making to the NCS Championship….the CAL parents should be proud of your boys.

    The All League Teams have been selected and it is time to move on. Yes, some players deserved better and in many cases the coaches got it right.

    Congrats to all the EBAL players that made All League Teams and good luck to graduating seniors. Congrats also to DLS and Dublin for their NCS Championships!

26. Spartan Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Great job and a lot of work on Boys EB All-League. Anyone covering girls All-League picks

27. Matt Smith Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    For me the glaring holes are in the EBAL. Not having Ryan Thomas on the first team, and not having Andre’ Rawls as AT LEAST the second team goalie was a mistake. Rawls and Thomas are very even, so I have no problem with Thomas being first team. Rawls not being at least second team is not cool.
    I also think that Borges or Littleton should have been the POY in the BSAL, but it went to the senior captain of the championship team.

28. CuriousJ Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    Hi, Matt. When will the Girls Soccer All League be posted?

29. ebal fan Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    Sweeper is completely right about Trevor Tow. As a coach of any sort I would feel extremely safe with him in the back. Do I think he’s dirty? At times, Would I want to play against him? No never but I would love to have him on my team. Every coach in EBAL would have wanted TT on their team no doubt about.

30. dval.mom Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    #23 – you might want to consider how insulting your comment is to not only the CVHS coach and team but, also the other 6 DVAL teams and their players. Where’s the dignity in that?

31. bambam Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    Re: TT

    I agree very good player that most would want on their team. He needs to control his emotions and also be more positive with his own players when they are not having a good game. Once he matures with that, he will be one of the best over all defensive players out there.

    GK – Throw a blanket on Rawls and Thomas, They are mirror images of each other. They are aggressive and have good reactions in goal. They both can be over aggressive at times which allow goals to be flicked or chipped over them but their positive ability out weighd that negative.
    Tanti was the best goalie but his missing a game or two must have kept him off the ballot. I’m not sure how Boyd managed to be above both of them but maybe his size was the deciding factor. His size best fits what the next level wants. Rogers gave up the fewest goals but his size worked just the opposite as Boyds. I saw fewer mistakes by him than some of the other keepers mentioned but he wasn’t tested as much as them in EBAL. He just played consistent with no real flash like the others.

    The league has voted and unless we have some tickets that were incorrectly punched then it is a done deal.

32. The Sweeper Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    There is no consistency in the All-League awards. 1st team has a different meaning between the various leagues. Some have POY, others have best offense and best defense, and most if not all elevate the individual awards above the first team. Then there are the leagues that have more than 11 on the first team. It allows more recognition but is a mixed basket of apples, oranges, grapes and mangos when comparing between leagues. This is not rocket science: I suggest either 11 starters for each team, or a standard of say 15 players, as if the coaches were truly selecting a team.

    I would also like to see an all-academic team based on each team’s AD nominating the two players with the highest GPAs, no numbers disclosed, just recognition for academic and athletic excellence. Every team gets to name two, but Cal is left out due to hidden videos. Makes sense to this 3rd grader. DOH!

    Great banter everyone, but curiously few comments from the 2A fans and players, and the DFAL in particular. I guess the picks in the DFAL were spot on with no controversy, or we would have heard it (LL).

33. Soccer Fan Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    #30- No insult intended it was simply a gentle rebuke. The DVAl record against other leagues is suspect this year.Read other posts that outline what DVAL teams did against other teams from other leagues and look closely at the disparity between the DVAL haves and have nots in 2010.The results speak for themselves and stats can be questioned.Clayton,YV and CP in fact most DVAL teams, have some good players but I don’t see other coaches on this blog pandering for their players.
    My point is to let Matt make the call based upon the dozens of games he watched and let him make his decisions with out the subjective opinions and vested interests of high school coaches.If parents and other fans chime in thats great but not coaches not here. Based upon what Matt has done this year to further prep soccer in the east bay I trust his selections will be fair, objective and well thought out.

34. Backline D Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    Soccer Fan #33 is absolutely right.
    Having Coach Gentry #18 come on the blog (where players, parents, coaches, officials and soccer fans discuss soccer)and state that the defensive MVP was not qualified to be the defensive MVP is shameful for a coach. There may be an argument for both players but ultimately Ortega won.
    Coach Gentry knows that it is HIS responsibility to lobby for his player during the league meetings to win these awards.
    Obviously the fellow coaches in DVAL felt that Alexander Ortega was more deserving.
    Coach have some class, congratulate Ortega, don’t disrespect your coaching peers decision, and move on.

35. yamon Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 10:17 pm

    Sweeper, did you really not see the video? It was up for a couple of days, I watched it multiple times on different days..

36. dval.mom Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    #33 & 34 – agreed that the Gentry’s comments were inappropriate. But, that was not the issue I was addressing. In the (deserving?) insult to him, there were seemingly hits upon others. Good to see that it was not #33 intent – thanks.

37. The Sweeper Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    Yamon,

    Some of us bloggers actually have a life and do not troll youtube for videos per se. That said, I did try 2 times and the message came back “removed by poster” so therein lies the truth, or the truth of the lies… The alleged video remains alleged in my view, and in fact numerous non-biased viewers have posted that they have seen the video from the “grassy knoll” and categorically refute the Cal fans’ bogus claim: to borrow from a popular phrase, “Ymbi (Bill) and Yamon’s (Ted’s) bogus adventure.”

    As previously posted, I was sitting opposite the alleged camera angle, 50 yards closer to the action, so there is no question in my mind that there was no red card foul, and it was even a questionable yellow.

    Withholding video evidence and claiming popularity within the Cal inner circle is another instance of fraudulent behavior. Let’s hear from the “cast of hundreds,” the friends of the “y-m-b-insane.” 125 of this, 325 of that, what a crock. Let the postings begin.

    The absolute truth of the matter is SRV scored 7 goals in 220 minutes against Cal (2.75 games), making the Cal defense look, well, defenseless, and Cal had scored 1. This is true and irrefutable. Then the unwarranted red card call was made on the best player on the field, and Cal, to their credit, took advantage of the situation. Without the call, SRV probably outscored Cal 8 or 9 to 1 over 240 minutes. This is the truth. Lacking officiating incompetence on one seriously bad call, SRV totally dominated Cal in 2010.

    Are you smarter than a 3rd grader? We now know that you are not. A third grader asks that you please re-post the alleged tape for all to see.

38. ebal fan Says:
    March 5th, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-qFlN2TSIM

    sweeper there you go, I had to ask one of my Cal friends to get it for me and I finally received it today. The first play of that seems like a red card as well.

39. The Sweeper Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 12:21 am

    Ebal Fan,

    Thanks for the reference to the video. You are the man.

    It is clear in the video that TT went straight up vertically (yes/no, it is clear to me), as previously posted by others, and the Cal player was moving up field toward TT as the aggressor. TT was clearly the vulnerable player in that situation, because he was higher in the air and the Cal player was rushing in on him. TTs move was purely defensive, exhibiting the rule, “protect yourself at all times.” If you disagree with that theory, then you have never palyed competitive soccer. That play was not at all dangerous and should have been a no call play, unless the Cal player had low-bridged TT. It is totally obvious from the video. The Cal contingent is now further discredited. TRUE.

    Regarding the first play, the SRV player clearly retaliated against the Cal player, because just before the WWF “soft” dragdown, while the SRV player was playing the ball, the Cal player was not, throwing an elbow in his back and resulting in the SRV player retaliation. I have previously commented on this play (I am in fact in the video in the stands at the 35 football yard line, less than 20 yards away, so I had a better view than the video), and the video totally reinforces my prior comments: a soft pull down but not a choke hold, though the comment from the SRV coach was for the books: “What the heck was that?”

    I have not seen anything on the videos warranting a red card. In fact, there were at least 3 or 4 situations in the final where Cal repeatedly fouled DLS players (ask DLS #7 hacked at least 10 times) where 2 or 3 fouls should have accumulated to a red. DOH!!!

    Thanks for the video and proving all of my points.

40. yamon Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 7:24 am

    You’re the man Sweeper!

41. yamon Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 7:32 am

    There’s the video, I have no idea why you keep asking me to post it and why I am culpable for the absence of the video. I never had it, nor have I ever had any more access to it than anyone on this blog.

    And I understand you’re probably just trying to prove a point, but you’re really trying to tell me that Cal deserved a red in the final?

    You’re right I’m not smarter than a 3rd grader as you’ve very clearly proven. I also have no life. Keep the personal attacks coming =)!

    Btw, really? Soft pulldown? Lol

42. ebal fan Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 9:20 am

    Sweeper I have agreed with all your points until the claim that you say Cal should have received a yellow in the final. The game was physical, the referee however had control of it.

43. u-mustbeinsane Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 10:52 am

    Sweeper,

    when I came up with my name for this blog I had you in mind.

    also, thx for proving my premise, that “those that do not WANT to see a foul will not”. Despite all of your whining, having seen the video you appear no more informed than you were previously.

    what part of “Elbow to the head area = red card” do you not understand!

44. EbalLax Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    Woo, Sweeper with the personal attacks. We get it, your boys from SRV lost. Get over it.

45. HS Soccer Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    Congrats on the DLS program finally getting respect they’ve deserved since 2005.

46. hssfan Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    # HS Soccer Says:
    March 6th, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    Congrats on the DLS program finally getting respect they’ve deserved since 2005.

    ?? huh??

47. Sox27 Says:
    March 8th, 2010 at 10:43 am

    Hey Sweeper,

    Why did John McNamara leave Bill Buckner in at first and not replace him in game 6. Get Over It!!!

    Congrats to a gutsy Cal High team for a great season.
    Oh, and with a few breaks……….could have beat DLS in the Final Game.

48. i see all Says:
    March 8th, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    sweeper i think you dont know anything about soccer

49. The Sweeper Says:
    March 9th, 2010 at 8:52 am

    I know nothing

50. trusoccerfan Says:
    March 9th, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    I agree with sweeper. I do not believe it was a red card offense. It was a foul but not a red. A yellow maybe. I wasn’t at the game but i saw the video and it looked as if the attacker was not aware of the defender and the defender was protecting himself. the defender had body position.
    Even with the SRV getting a red card, they should have won the game. They had a 3 goal game at one point. Credit does have to go to Cal though after coming out of a huge deficit and then playing a good game against DLS. Good job boys.

51. bambam Says:
    March 9th, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    It looks like the CR gave a yellow and the the soft red. Was that not correct?

    Why wasn’t Ritter in in goal for SRV? When did they make a switch this year to this keeper?

52. Lost in this thang Says:
    April 6th, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    Matt when are thee all Eastbay coming out like the ones your going to pick?

53. Longone10 Says:
    April 7th, 2010 at 9:04 am

    Are you guys talking about san ramon santos?

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