171 Responses to “East Bay Soccer Notes: Teams to watch, Rankings, Standings, Stats”

1. Bench Warmer Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 5:07 am

   Fun week coming up!!

   Cal vs De La Salle (Norcal Championship rematch)
   SRV vs. Monte Vista (Danville showdown)
   Campo vs. Piedmont (battle of first place teams)
   Cal vs. Livermore (this time in Grizzly territory)
   DValley vs. Freedom (tied for #1 in BVAL)
   Liv vs. Granada, Granada playing better ball..all rivalries are tough…(Livermore showdown)

   you have to love east bay soccer…

   Matt, some stats still off…

2. eastbaysoccerfan Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 5:49 am

   Matt, once again a very comprehensive report, you are da man. I agree with most all of the predictions for league winners and teams to watch, but only time will tell.

   Definetly some top caliber matches on tap for this week. I have seen quite a few teams play and have liked what I’ve seen so far.

   As for bench warmers highlighted matches, heres my predictions….lol…

   Cal 1 DLS 3
   SRV 2 MV 1
   Campo 1 Piedmont 0
   Cal 1 Livermore 2
   DV 3 Freedom 0
   Liv 2 Granada 2

3. Anonymous Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 10:38 am

   Matt you have shorted Acalanes of a win I believe (if this was updated after Friday and their win over Miramonte)

4. Matt Smith Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 11:02 am

   You are correct. Looks like I was missing a game against MSJ. I have updated it.

5. mval Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 12:14 pm

   The Newark vs Logan game has to be added to the list of big games for this week. Battle for first place. Last year Newark beat Logan back to back on their field to take league playoffs. Logan will come out for this game fired up.

6. Futboll Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 12:31 pm

   MVHS will win NCS. When all is said and done, you can come back to this comment and say to yourself, “Wow, what a prediction he made.” With the defense of Bryan Hromatko, the leadership of Tim McKee, the speed from Kevin Ho and Luke Oberlander, this MV team will prosper, mark my words.

7. dfal Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 12:54 pm

   Matt, I am pretty sure Las Lomas is 6-5-4, you may be missing a 1-0 win against Pittsburg that is not reported on maxpreps either..

8. soccerfan Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 12:54 pm

   Looks to me like according to Matts roommate and Eastbaysoccerfan that the game of the week is DLS @ CAL predicting DLS will not lose and DLS will win 3-1 respectively. Sorry I don’t see DLS scoring 3 goals on CAL. Eastbaysoccerfan you have CAL giving up 5 goals this next week, have you seen CAL play yet?

9. eastbaysoccerfan Says:
   January 16th, 2011 at 4:44 pm

   Soccerfan, yea I have seen Cal play. I too thoought about it, nut I stand by the predictions, I think Cal has a tough week coming up. Maybe the goals might not be right on but the results should be…

10. ebal fan Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 5:28 pm

    There is so much to argue on this post. But we’ll let the games play out. There is a lot of bulletin board for a number of teams. You guys point that CAL has a tough week, so does DLS as they also play MV.

11. Anonymous Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    Thought I would re-post this on the new thread.

    DFAL analysis:

    Campolindo: Currently the powerhouse leader of the DFAL, but could easily be threatened by Acalanes. Tough ties against Alhambra (1-1) and Las Lomas (2-2) should not hurt their NCS seeding too much, but could create some trouble for them with a surging Acalanes threatening to take the league title. With a win over Acalanes, they should seal up the DFAL and most likely a #1 or #2 seed in NCS.

    Acalanes: I would expect to see Acalanes move up in the rankings after 4 wins against SRV (1-0), Piedmont (2-0), Las Lomas (4-0), and Miramonte (2-1) this past week to compile nine straight wins now. This team seems to have definitely found their composure after losing some key players from last year. With a win over Campo next week, they could find themselves very close to a #1 or #2 seed in NCS.

    Dublin: Seems to have regained their composure after a 0-2 loss to Acalanes to pull three straight victories, including a respectable win against Dougherty Valley 3-1. Definitely a rebuilding year for this team after losing 12 seniors from their NCS championship team last year. Still a strong side in D2 and expect them to do some damage in NCS.

    Alhambra: They seem a little bit out of form, and have not been able to post a win in their last 7 games. A nice tie against Campo (1-1), but tough losses to Dougherty Valley (0-3) and Miramonte (0-1) will certainly not help their cause for NCS seedings. However, Alhambra is a scrappy team that can find a way to string wins together in big games. As with any DFAL team, should certainly qualify for NCS and could win a few games there.

    Miramonte: Certainly a stronger side this year than last, despite graduating their star player. They have shown to be able to compete in every DFAL game, but have unfortunately only been able to come up with one win. Certainly another rebuilding year for Miramonte but expect them to return to strong form in the next couple of years. Miramonte has traditionally had a very strong soccer program. They have an interesting schedule with teams outside of NCS (good to see them play games out of league which they haven’t done for the past few years).

    Dougherty Valley: Started out very strong with a great showing in the Winter Classic. Have had some success outside of league, with solid wins over BOD (4-2) and Piedmont (4-1). Unlucky showing thus far in league, but still post an overall winning record so expect to see this team in NCS and can always threat to do some damage. As with every team in the DFAL, I still believe that they could beat any other team in the DFAL with a strong showing.

    Las Lomas: I was very surprised to find the knights in last place in the DFAL. They have traditionally had a very strong program and did not graduate very many players from last year’s squad. However, they too have a winning record, so we may see six teams from the DFAL in NCS. I would not be surprised to see them regain their composure and possibly be a threat in NCS.

    Overall, I find the DFAL to be the top D2 league in the east bay with all seven teams being strong sides. I should expect them to get some strong seeds in NCS, and as a league they will certainly threaten for a championship that they have won 8 out of the last 9 years. San Lorenzo and Bishop O’Dowd also seem to be great sides that I wish the best of luck. I just hope that the BSAL does not get as lucky of seedings as they did last year over the DFAL (several DFAL teams have defeated Piedmont {the current leader of the BSAL}).

12. The Sweeper Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    Matt, Interesting call regarding Arroyo. Is Arroyo D1 or D2, size wise? What will it take for them to reach honorable mention, or didn’t you already give it to them? What will they have to do to get a top 15 ranking?

    #2 EBSF, I expect DLS to play for the tie @ Cal on Tuesday, unless they get an early lead. Cal has been experimenting recently, working on their counterattack game to complement their in-your-face vertical assault, so if DLS is too aggressive, the result may be 3-1, but not as you called it. I also hope that it is a clean match devoid of yellow cards, unlike the finale last year.

    BTW, Berkeley @ Acalanes on Saturday at noon looks VERY interesting.

13. soccerfann Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    BOD 1 – YV 0

    Great game from start to finish.
    From what I know O’Dowd was missing 2 key players, their center mid and their sweeper. YV’s lineup was also different from the game against Clayton with a lot of changes throughout the game, especially in midfield. Now still, all this didn’t affect the flow of the game.

    YV dominated O’Dowd for most of the game. They had at least 4 or 5 chances to put themselves up but didn’t manage to put the ball in the net. BOD also had a couple chances at goal and managed to put one in. It was a very well played game on both sides.

    YV’s midfield looks very strong. They play the ball out wide so well and both outside mids are great on the ball and make good runs. A player that really caught my eye is their attacking mid, #7. That boy’s speed on the ball is amazing. Once he starts running with the ball at his feet it is very hard to stop him. He is definately one to look out for.

    BOD also showed composure in their midfield. They distributed the ball well and made great use of their forward #7, which is one of their standout players.

14. Matt Smith Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    The Sweeper’s always has great analysis and great questions.
    After the top 15 and the 10 honorable mention, it gets really thin. Right now Dougherty Valley is the next in line to hop back in. That last spot was between them and Las Lomas. So I am looking for new blood in case teams slip, and Arroyo could be that team despite being 4-8-3.
    They have a winnable match with Tennyson this week, then a match with San Lorenzo. A draw or even a one-goal loss in which it sounds like they played even for the entire game could bode well for them. If they go 1-1, it will be hard to throw a 5-9-3 team into the next 10, but a 1-0-1 week might work.
    College Park is another team I am watching. Big week for them with Concord and YV. A couple of good results has them in the mix.

15. haal says Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    regarding arroyo, it is a D1 team with an enrollment of around 1800-1900, also it has not been mentioned in the next 10 yet, see what happens this week, best of luck,
    GO DONS

16. 50150 Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    Matt why is livermore ranked higher than berkeley if berkeley has a better record?

17. The Sweeper Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Thanks for the compliment. I enjoy your reporting and keeping you on your toes, as well as the banter with the peanut gallery.

    If you are up for a trek to the East Bay on Saturday, I will be going to the noon Berkeley @ Acalanes match and the 3pm Richmond @ MV match. Given the timing of the matches, I am offering free shuttle service to you from the Lafayette BART station to either or both matches. I can accommodate up to 2 tag-alongs. DFAL and EBAL fans would like the live coverage and you will see 2 top notch matches.

    Let me know and we can work out the details (11:40am or 2:00pm at BART). If not, see you at the playoffs and good luck with your studies.

    –The Sweeper

18. Matt Smith Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    Oh ya, I forgot to mention Arroyo is Division I.

    In regards to Berkeley and Livermore and the rankings, it has to do with recent stuff. In the last few weeks, Berkeley lost 2-0 to a Pinole team that wasn’t ranked while Livermore’s only loss was a one-goal loss at De La Salle. They also have wins over SRV and MV in that stretch.

    As far as the Las Lomas thing is concerned, I’ve been informed that the match against Pitt had to be forfeited to Pitt. That is the reason for the record change.

19. Matt Smith Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    P.S. I might take Sweeper up on that offer. I can do homework on BART.

20. Matt Smith for president Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Sweeper, I agree with the Berkeley vs. Acalanes match. Acalanes traditionally plays tough, stingy defense. They come out aggressive and score early, and then hang back and pack the box. Berkeley is still injured I believe, and their offense struggles at times. However, they too play great defense and are hard to score on when they communicate.

21. bambam Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    DLS vs CAL

    I watched the CAL coaches video taping the RCH vs DLS match Saturday night and feel that there is more on the line for CAL than DLS at this point. CAL will be tough for that reason. DLS never leans on one player and always plays very hard as a unit but their leading scorer will be out for a while. This injury might hamper them a little. I will probably predict a draw with the match being played on CAL’s pitch. Due to heart of the players and the DLS coaching staff, I would never go against DLS. CAL has the players and the lead in EBAL, so this could be a possible 3 game match concluding with the NCS finals between the two schools. I know there is at least 6 schools that could knock either one of them out of the playoffs but these should be the top two for now.

22. The Sweeper Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    Matt,

    Let me know by Friday. Weather will not be a factor and my schedule is flexible as long as I catch each kickoff.

23. The Sweeper Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    Bambam,

    I am sure that Cal respects DLS and will not underestimate the Spartans, but DLS has more to lose on Tuesday. A loss would put DLS at 4-3 in league at the halfway point, likely putting DLS behind Livermore and SRV or MV (in addition to Cal). A tie would entrench DLS in the race for the second half, where they close with Cal at home. If Cal loses (no losses to date) they still control their destiny. It should be a fine match on Tuesday.

24. bambam Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 12:47 am

    Sweeper

    You’re right in the aspect for winning EBAL but here is how I see it. CAL has not won over DLS for at least the past 5 matches (two years) and certainly they don’t want to put any doubt into their so far perfect year. A loss to DLS would put the object of DLS real close into their rear view mirror and that would tighten them up a little going into the second round of EBAL. A win and league is pretty much wrapped up. DLS needs the win but after going 0-2 to start league the focus has been probably more on getting the ship into the right direction and winning NCS. My daughter is playing CAL that night or I would have gone to watch this match. It should be one of the best D-1 matches to watch to date this season.

25. casualfan Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 3:39 am

    As a casual fan of high school soccer I don’t get out to as many games as some of the writers on this page. I was intrigued by the Bishop O’Dowd vs San Lorenzo game last week. Turned out to be well worth the time. Two really good teams. Looked like O’Dowd would run away with it early but SL battled back with excellent speed and ball control. The game turned on the late inspired play of #3 from O’Dowd who displayed some pretty impressive speed as well as very good passing skills. His aggressive play fired up his teammates and proved to be the catalyst that lead to the late winning goal for O’Dowd.

26. baller Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 7:47 am

    In regards to the BOD vs. YV game on Saturday, soccerfan says YV “dominated” BOD. Are you sure you watched the game from a unbiased position, cause there looked like no domination here. evenly played match, with some solid opportunities both ways. BOD was just able to finish one of theirs. Also, missing more than two starters. A JV call up buried the game winner as well. Just FYI

27. ebal fan Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 11:04 am

    BamBam,
    This game doesn’t mean more to CAL, you say they were at the game it’s because they are always well prepared, they were at SRV vs Newark. Also, when CAL played MV, there was someone there for DLS that day. I also think the CAL coaches get into their players that it’s a new year as long as it’s just another game for them. The season continues no matter the result.

    I do not see DLS winning league or NCS this year.

28. soccerfann Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Baller:

    Yeah, dont get me wrong. Both sides played great soccer. But by “dominated” I meant to say YV had the better chances to come out with the win.
    And once again, those players who stepped in for missing players in both sides did a very good job.

29. love the game Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 11:33 am

    DLS vs Cal is the match of the week for EBAL,
    DLS appears to be scoring now, which is different from the beginning of the season when they showed an inability to finish. Cal has the best attack in the league collectively, but their defense is suspect, and from what I saw is vulnerable. I predict DLS 2-1 or 2-2 tie.

    The DLS style is very direct, and this will play well against the CAL defense. Should be a great game and I will be there.

30. Iker Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 11:55 am

    Suspect defense? 1-0 win against Livermore? 1-0 win against MV? 2-1 win over SRV?

31. love the game Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    Iker,

    my comments are based on two recent games.

    I saw CAL play against Foothill and SRV,
    and CAL gave up a goals in each of those games. In the Foothill game, the defense had trouble with the very athletic and aggressive forward play of foothill (not very skilled but aggressive). btw…DLS plays similarly, but with skilled players to finish.

    In the SRV game, the CAL goal keeper looked a little shakey, and on one play he went to kick a ball rolling towards him, and in fact hit it off the side of his foot and it traveled negatively. He also bobbled a couple of balls as well. I was expecting more poise from him.

    In the CAL-SRV game, after the SRV coach made some changes to the SRV formation, SRV dominated the middle in the second half, and was able to bring the ball all the way up to the attacking 3rd pretty easily, unfortunately SRV did not make any runs in the attacking third and were not effective at scoring to equalize.

    I read these blogs and saw some interesting commentary on that game, from what seemed to be CAL parents wearing Grizzle Goggles. Although CAL’s attack looked very good, the match with SRV was much more even then reported.

    A final thought…. I agree with Bambam (comment 21), there are multiple teams that can contend for the playoffs, as there is quiet a bit more parity this year than last year, but I think the NCS champ will come from the EBAL…..

32. soccerfan Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    First of all CAL v SRV, SRV did not dominate the seacond half. SRV had about a 10 minute spell where they controlled posession. CAL had a problem puting them away, a very one sided game. And yes thier defense is suspect and thier keeper is shakey. LOL and they don’t score many goals either. LOL

33. Scoreboard Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    Grizzly goggles! Exactly what I’ve been thinking..Also what happened to all the Livermore fans that were blowing up this blog a couple weeks ago?
    Back to Cal – big game for them tomorrow. Can they get the monkey off their back and finally beat the Spartans? Should be a great game. Saw DLS vs. Richmond and it appeared they were able to rest most of the starters. Cal coach is getting credit for filming games, I was happy to see him there. Let’s see how he adjusts in game though. Any other good games this week??
    Iker, soccerfan – where can I buy the grizzly goggles? LOL!

34. Dfallzzz Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    Piedmont forfit against campo

35. Barney Barnyard Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Livermore will beat Cal this week…Too much Morales. Livermore has many players that have walked down the dark alleys of soccer over the years. I see an upset brewin’!

    “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.”
    United#7

36. ebal fan Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    Scoreboard,
    Will it take two CAL victories this week for you to put on your grizzly googles?

    I have also been informed SRV plays MV at SRV at 4 tomorrow. They have done this as the girls varsity game will follow that. Why can’t every school do this?

37. Iker Says:
    January 17th, 2011 at 11:32 pm

    Did I include any biased commentary in my post? I don’t believe so. I simply posted the scores. If you want to tell me that they weren’t representative of the matches that’s fine, but shutouts against MV and Livermore don’t seem to point towards a suspect defense.

    So I don’t know where to buy the goggles at Scoreboard. LOL!

38. Scoreboard Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 12:46 am

    Iker..Just trying to have some fun. I really don’t care who cheers for who. I never said anything about Cal having a suspect defense, I believe the opposite actually.
    Cheers!
    100

39. kickball1662 Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:04 am

    Anyone catching wednesdays game “Logan vs Newark”? Should be a great match.. both teams undefeated in there league! Ulloa and Navarro are the players to watch. I see this game to be very exciting!

40. Old HAAL Dad Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:25 am

    DLS vs Richmond – Richmond is a real puzzle to me. I don’t know if I remember a match where a team played so beautifully from defending third to attacking third and lost by 4 goals. DLS really packed the defense in their third having 8 to 9 players in the area at times which didn’t give Richmond much room to operate especially on the narrow DLS field. Pretty smart really on DLS’s part. DLS definitely made the most of their chances with good counter attacking. I think goal keeping was a big part of this game with DLS definitely having the advantage and Richmond’s keeper having a bad night. DLS is tough, physical, fast, well organized on defense at least, nothing flashy, they just get the job done. I will say that #10 for DLS is a very nice player, good skills and very determined. You may have something Matt with pick for DLS but still a lot of soccer to play.

41. The Sweeper Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    #36 Ebal Fan. What is your source for the SRV v. MV Varsity boys soccer match today? MaxPreps and the SRV Web site have the match scheduled @MV at 6pm, while the MV Web site has the match @SRV at 4pm. I would like to see that match before heading to DLS @Cal, but need to confirm the 4pm start @SRV.

42. Ebal player Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    I’m a friend of some players on srv and they said their game was at 4 today as well.

43. Old HAAL Dad Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    #36 Most likely because parents want to watch their kids play and most parents don’t get off work at 3:00 and most parents agree to tax themselves to pay off school bonds that pay to install lights for night games to be able to watch their kids. Football & basketball night games also make some money. Are you begining to see a theme here?

44. SRVDAD Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    SRV/MV Boys 4pm at SRV…Double-header with girls game at 6pm. Both schools did this last year as well. Makes for a great rivalry evening and both teams can support each other.

45. Curious Observer Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    Correction

    Piedmont and Campo will be re-scheduled due to poor weather. Players couldn’t see the ball because of the fog.

46. Curious Observer Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Piedmont over the 0-3-2 stretch had their leading goal scorer, with 8 goals, out with an injury, two outside attacking midfielders out and starting keeper out with an injury. All players will be returning for the game against the St. Mary’s team and will have the same squad that beat them 2-1 the first time.

    St. Mary’s plays a possession style with the back for and dumps the ball to the corners. If you watched the first game Piedmont was scored on early on a mistake from that style of play and the rest of the game shut it down. They scored two goals from great possession and switching the point of attack. Hopefully they can reproduce.

    They already have came back and beat Encinal 3-0 without their forward but the other players back.

    The Acalanes game was great until the referee gave away a very cheeky PK call at the end of the half. He allowed a lot of hand checking all game and a ball that was over everyone’s head and not possible for any player to score on or clear lead to a Piedmont player putting his hands on an Acalanes players back and he called a pk. Way to hand the game over and not be consistent.

47. Curious Observer Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    Mind you the keeper saved the first shot.

48. SoccerScout Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    #39 I’ll be there. i really want to see if Logan has overcome that preseason downfall they had after their loss to Cal 5-0. Seems as if they have found a rhythm since their scoring 3 goals a game and none allowed in league. And Ulloa leading NCS in goals, i want to catch a glimpse of the scoring leader. I also think Logan does altnerate keepers as i was looking at the stats on MaxPreps, only seen the one that played the Cal game, havent seen the other one yet.

    Also, Newark has a high ranking, so lets see how the #2 ranked team can handle a very hot Logan tomorrow night. Will be a very intense game since this is a huge rivalry. Navarro is also probably hungry for a goal or 2 i bet. Ramirez will be the X factor in this game to me, his long range can be effective especially on his home field.

49. AvFan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    Foothill 2, AV 0. 10 min to go in first half.

    Any score from SRV/MV?

50. SRV DAD Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Boys match:
    MV 2, SRV 1
    SRV up 1-0 at the half, but MV kept pressing hard the second half. It appeared the SRV GK misread the shot on MV’s second goal. It looked like he thought it was going wide and made no play on the ball…not even a arm extended. Tough goal to give up when it could have been handled. A 1-1 tie would have been a fair result as neither team really looked much better than the other tonight. Looks like the loss may drop SRV down to 5th in EBAL should DLS get at least a draw tonight vs. Cal and Livermore takes care of business. Second half of EBAL season should be a real dogfight.

51. bambam Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    Any updates on the CAL vs DLS match?

52. AvFan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    FH 2, AV 1. 30 min to go 2nd half.

53. AvFan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    Final – Foothill 2, AV 1. AV was credible in 2nd half and hit post at 25 min mark, plus they had a 1v1 on the goalie that they did not convert. Good game, FH deserved the win with 2 nice goals in first half.

54. BVAL Fan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    Deer Valley 2, Freedom 0

55. ebaljunkie Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    CAL 2-1 over DLS!!!!!!!!!! CAL has proved themselves tonight and just told the entire league that if you want to win league your going to have to beat us. CAL finished there chances and took care of business on defense once again.

56. Longtimesoccerfan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    Granada beat Livermore 3-2. The second half should be interesting. Other than cal Granada has only lost the other games by 1 goal. Some injured starters will be back soon as well.

57. Closeup Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    EBAL doing what EBAL does best…beating each other up….MV moves up to second in the league after their comeback win over rivals SRV tonight and Granada gets themselves into the pack with their big win over Livermore. After Cal, 3 points separate 2nd through 6th place. Cal hasn’t dominated any of the top 5 EBAL teams on the field but have in the win column, and I guess that’s what counts. Second half of the EBAL season begins Thursday and it should get more interesting.

58. Bobby Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Cal and DLS played a great game with both teams missing opportunities. Rivas missed a PK wide right and DLS hit the crossbar twice in the 2nd half. A very fast-paced game…. Cal might need to keep an eye on their tempers – might be a way for opposing teams to get under their skin. Some bad temper tantrums tonight from Cal Captains.

59. Scoreboard Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Good game tonight at Cal..Few things I noticed.
    *”The playmaker” Cal’s #10 missed a pk and was otherwise not seen very much in the run of play. Not sure why he has gotten so much love on this blog(go ahead and shoot me now Cal fans!). Just my opinion. Thought #21 and #11 were much more dangerous.
    *DLS backline more suspect than other years..First Cal goal was off the 2nd PK given in the 2nd half. Terrible turnover and foul by a DLS CB.
    *Cal defense putting up #’s but susceptible to goals.
    Overall DLS hit crossbar twice and had a couple saved off the line, Cal had chances too. Cal finished twice and DLS once. A great, clean game where the ref did a decent job. These two are the obvious favorites from what I have seen this year. Good job to both schools.

60. ebal fan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Wow I just got back from the DLS CAL game and I almost missed this game! First half, even played, DLS like always off a set piece. After that however, the game shifted, DLS played too defensive and just sat back as they gave CAL the entire midfield to play and were constantly being run at.
    Second half, CAL seemed to make a few adjustments and DLS continued to sit back but countered very well as they had one go off the crossbar and one saved off the goal line by a very outstanding CAL keeper. CAL on the other hand, had two penalty kicks as from my view they were both fouls, unfortunately for them only one was converted. Off a long throw in, CAL scored to put the final touch on the win.
    Overall a very well played game, with a few things that could have been done better by both coaches. In the end, very good result for CAL as they have separated themselves from the pack just in wins not by their style of play. Scoreboard where are you today?

    Sweeper, I think I spotted you today as I saw you last week too sitting on the CAL side.

61. ebal fan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    Sorry scoreboard, we posted at the same time.
    And you say the CAL play maker hasn’t been seen? He works hard defensively, I was on the side where CAL scored both goals and on the second one, he ran to get the ball, defense followed him and someone scored. He was involved in the first half but has to play too deep for his function to the team. I know where you’re coming from though.

    I have seen every team play twice at least. Unless injuries happen I will give you few first team ALL EBAL players: Morales(Livermore), Chaussy(SRV), Rivas (CAL), Bernardi (DLS), Foster(Granada).

62. Soccerfan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    Pitt 2 Antioch 1

63. Thomas Erickson Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    I caught both the DLS- Cal game and the MV- San Ramon game tonight. Some great soccer! I agree with the DLS-Cal summaries previously posted. Close game, good chances on both sides. Cal earned the win despite the missed PK. However I saw the MV-San Ramon game very differently. San Ramon controlled the midfield early. Both teams had good chances with MV missing several good opportunities in the first half. San Ramon was fortunate to keep MV off the board. San Ramon put good pressure on MV. The MV keeper made several nice plays to hold the Wolves to 1 at the half. MV completely dominated the second half. San Ramon looked tired and had trouble keeping up with MV’s numerous runs. This game could easily have been 3 or 4 to 1. EBAL won’t be decided until the last week of the season.

    Peace

64. The Truth Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    #59- Spot on the playmaker comments.The kid gets too much credit when he surrounded by kids that make HIM look good.Honestly the best player on that team is fagenson

65. Bench Warmer Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    My 2 cents:

    Bernardi – yes, Chaussy – yes. the others I do not see. You must be going off of old info here. If you look at current play, no on the others. As you keep trying to speak about excuses for specific players not playing well it is not backed up by play on the field. you keep coming up with reasons why not. You shouldn’t have to do that for a great player.

    I am one not going with your reasoning Ebal Fan. I saw the exact same thing that Scoreboard saw and it was not because of marking or loading up the middle as you have mentioned before. The players Scoreboard mentioned had marks also, but had great games. Cal appears to play as a unit really well.

    DLS vs. Cal was a great game tonight and could have gone either way. Both teams were tight for obvious reasons. Just fun to watch as they relaxed and played open in the end!!! EBAL soccer at its best!!

66. Scoreboard Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    EBAL fan – I’ve seen playmaker a few times and I’m not that impressed is all. I too was on that side and saw DLS kid give the ball away and it ended up with #13 I believe who drew the foul – did I miss playmaker there? I agree with your EBAL players except Cal has 2 or 3 others who can take the spot from Rivas. I can tell he has a good soccer IQ, but a #10 should offer more to a match is what I am saying.
    Was just happy to see a great game. Cal posed a threat every time they had the ball, DLS more methodical and patient..We will see what happens in the second half!

67. THEanonymous Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    I could not be happier bout the Cal victory. We have put ourselves in a very comfortable position to capture the EBAL title, considering all the teams are so close together in ability.
    EBAL standings:
    California 19
    Monte Vista 13
    De La Salle 12
    San Ramon Valley 12
    Livermore 12
    Granada 10
    Foothill 4
    Amador Valley 0
    Might I add Cal was quite lucky. They beat the current 2nd through 5th place teams all by a single goal. I think they very know what it takes, and they are finally able to execute it. I am really looking forward to the second half. Let us Cal fans pray they can keep rolling.

68. Matthew Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    Scoreboard I disagree about cal not dominating any of the top 5. They dominated Granada, score could have been more than 4-0. Also dominated SRV most of the game even though score did not show it. Now the other games CAL managed to get the job done with all around team effort, nothing pretty but 3 points. “GRIZZLY GOGGLES HERE, GET YOUR GRIZZLY GOGGLES”

69. ebal fan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    The game DLS played reminds me a lot of how Mourinho tells his team to play soccer. You guys might be right, but at some point he’ll come to life. I’m sure the team will take a league title and an NCS title over any individual award. The CAL defense deserves a lot of credit this far and hopefully they keep it up. Spoke to their coach before the season started and he did say the few returners and him still dream of that loss in the title game. It seems to be working out for them.

70. BALLER Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    does any body know if alameda tied against pinole valley?

71. ebal fan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    CAL is being driven by experience of being in the big game last year, coaches, returners, they have what it takes.
    Scoreboard I agree at times with you, I also thought CAL was getting too much credit until they have recently just put up numbers in the wins column.
    Possession wise, Livermore, SRV, DLS and MV play better possession soccer than CAL as they seem to have players with better touches in the middle and CAL has one only, but CAL has the strength in their wing back #11, and #21.

72. Scoreboard Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    Yes EBAL fan I think we are close to being on the same page. Not saying #10 needs to score 3 goals a game or anything, I understand he needs to keep the ball moving and simple for the Cal team to function. Not arguing! Lets not hand the title over just yet – another full round to go – Matthew I never said anything about Cal dominating or whatever, check the posting again. I do agree that winning tight games makes ya better, but at some point the ball might not bounce their way. Cal tied Foothill right? Is it crazy to think they may drop points going thru MV, SRV, etc. again? I think not..
    100

73. ebal fan Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    Scoreboard just hit it right on, he just needs to be more involved in the game. Whether it’s his lack of movement or the team not feeding him. Sweeper had said teams are pacing him but the team is winning without his performance so that’s the good part. Players even at the higher levels go through parts where they don’t play well for a reason or another.
    I’m not handing the title over, I think any team besides Amador is capable of beating anyone.

74. Matthew Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    Sorry Scoreboard, my bad I meant Closeup.

75. FJPhotoGuy Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 11:00 pm

    Some action shots from tonight’s Cal – DLS match are available for online now at the following link:

    http://www.fjphotoguy.com/CalHighSoccer2010-2011/Cal-High-vs-DLS-1-18-2010

    Enjoy

76. JFPhotoGuy Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    Pictures from tonight’s Cal-DLS game are available for online viewing using the following link:

    http://www.fjphotoguy.com/CalHighSoccer2010-2011/Cal-High-vs-DLS-1-18-2010

    Enjoy,

    The FJPhotoGuy

77. The Sweeper Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 11:13 pm

    Congratulations to Cal for their first ever(?) win tonight against DLS. These are presently the two best teams in the EBAL, and perhaps the NCS, but there are still seven more matches to play in the second half. BTW, a loss for Cal tonight would not have been as disastrous as some have stated: an early loss may have paved the way for a stronger title run. As it stands, the undefeated tag remains.

    The two PK foul calls tonight seemed legit, and certainly the 2nd was a clear clip from the rear. Contrary to some Cal parents, DLS did not play entirely in a shell with the lead: witness the two crossbar misses and the point blank blast covered by the Cal keeper all in the second half.

    Either team could have scored 2, 3 or 4 goals tonight, but it was 1-1 with 5 minutes to go because of the tension of the match and a measure of luck or unluckiness, depending on your perspective.

    #10 Cal and #10 DLS were each watched closely by the opposition, so everything they did was clearly earned.

    By my recollection, the key to the match was the loss of #17 for DLS to injury on two occasions. When he was on the field, Cal was stiffly challenged in order to enter the 18 box, but when he was off the field, Cal had a somewhat easier path to the goal. If DLS #17 plays all 80 minutes, the outcome could have been very different.

    In summary, nice win for Cal but nothing, repeat NOTHING, has been decided tonight. Whoever wins the last showdown between these two teams this season has the inside track to win the NCS.

78. The Sweeper Says:
    January 18th, 2011 at 11:52 pm

    BTW, what is it with DLS parents sitting on the Cal side of the field and not sitting behind their team in the east bleachers? As guests at a stadium, guests should behave as guests and sit in the guest stands, unless there are no guest stands. Is this concept not understood? Every other team in the EBAL gets this concept.

79. Bench Warmer Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 12:20 am

    Just checked the history banks and Cal beat DLS in 2007 in a NCS semifinal game to get to the final against MV. They beat DLS in OT at DLS…………….DLS was not part of the EBAL back then…….

    But that does not take away from Cal’s big win last night. You could call it the first win over DLS in regulation time…..

80. Matthew Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 6:17 am

    Sweeper, I agree with you about the DLS fans, they not only sat on the CAL side they had a guy in the CAL booth yelling loudly up above directly behind the CAL fans and someone else parked inside the gate honking thier horn. What’s up with that?

81. love the game Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 7:25 am

    DLS vs CAL was a good game to watch, although CAL won I was more impressed with the composure, shape and constant aggressive play by DLS. Clearly a less talented team then CAL. DLS organizes and plays well as a team. I would say DLS is arguably the least talented, top team. But teams win championships not individuals. I also thought Fagasan was the best player on the field tonight but lost his cool after he was carded for a dive (tough call). As I stated before CAL has a very strong attack, and collectively the most talented attacking team, but their defense is penetrable. The second half of the league will be tougher for CAL as teams adjust play to contend.

    Some thoughts on the player front based on the last 3 games, Ben Danielson is a top player for CAL and of course #13 Jianni (the leagues leading scorer) and Fagasan, who is looking better than Rivas at the moment. MV has lot of good players but right now Mckee and Brown are standing out of the pack.
    Also Chaussy for SRV has not been on lately, SRVs top players right now are Scatterday, Melara and Ledford. DLS has Bernardi and Bravo and Livermore has a host of midfielders who can play the game. Foster is the only stand out for Granada.

    The race:
    The race for second is about to get tighter in EBAL fashion. I think that CAL will win the league but will suffer a loss to someone before it’s over, and who ever beats CAL takes momentum into the NCS. NCS should be very exciting and difficult to predicate this year.

82. Barney Barnyard Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 7:42 am

    Just wanted to give some Love to the Granada Boys for last night’s win over cross town rival Livermore. The game was a hard fought tight battle between ex teammates and friends. Pretty clean played and well reffed. Granada goes out to a 2-1 lead at the half on a goal by Trevor Long and Garrett Foster. Second half Livermore has tons of pretty little passes but only a couple of real chances come from it. Granada gets a corner kick and tries some goofy play that gives Livermore a fast break and Morales finishes a nice shot to the lower corner. A few minutes later, Granada gets a fast break of their own. Foster busts in on the Cowboy defender, Knocks him off the ball and fires a shot that the Livermore goalie saves. The is deflected to Trevor Long, Who finishes it nicely with a lovely header. Granada looked more determined than Livermore. Especially in the first half. The Cowboys looked a bit lazy and didn’t seem to take the game too seriously until they were already down. Mistake!

83. GlobalSoccer Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 8:32 am

    I was able to see both the SRV-MV and CAL-DLS games yesterday. Yes, I don’t have anything to do!

    SRV-MV: SRV dominated the first 6 minutes. It looked like MV didn’t come out to play. MV lineup was not its strongest and it showed. Another MV goalie mistake gave SRV a 1-0 lead.

    MV woke up some at the 20 minute mark and started to press in the middle (Salimpour/Oberlander). MV had 6 good shots on frame. The second half was totally MV. SRV mids (Melara/Guisti)again disappeared. SRV’s defense was on its heals the entire half. MV was the better team this afternoon holding possesion 65-35, shots 19-9, shots on goal 10-4.

    MV has a big weakness: goal tending. Your goalie has to be good in order to get through to the next level.

84. Old HAAL Dad Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 8:33 am

    I saw both games as well and agree with Post #50 regarding the no save attempt by the SRV Keeper. I don’t put this on the kid I put this on the coach’s lame substitution practices. Unless the starting keeper was hurt he should not have been taken out of the game, he’s a much better keeper. Same thing on the Cal/DLS game, Cal’s #21 is lightning in a bottle, very dangerous yet he sat out a stretch in the second half and their attack had a marked let down. These two coaches seem to love wholesale changes in their lineup during the game and the results are marginal at best. Somebody explain this tactic to me. Are these coaches just trying to interject themselves into the game? I was wondering if someone was going to say something about the Fans, the guy up in the Cal booth should have been asked to vacate the booth and the person in the car who couldn’t brave the cold, well I guess you have to consider the source, some people just feel entitled. The Monte Vista fans, obnoxious as usual.

85. GlobalSoccer Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 8:47 am

    CAL-DLS: I agree with what almost everything mentioned about this game. DLS took was in control in the 1st half and CAL really took it to them in the 2nd half. Yes, DLS had chances because they are a good team but CAL kept at it until they got the result.
    Again, #10(Rivas) was nearly invisible in the middle. If anyone noticed, most of CAL’s attacking opportunities came with Fagenson winning the middle. Yes, at this moment Fagenson is CAL’s main man.

    This game might have ended as a tie if the AR would have properly called a goal on a ball the goalie took out of the past the line. A CAL parent, DLS parent and I were standing at the end line when this happened (at 19:02). The ball was clearly over. Bernardi should have made sure it went into the net.

    Fun day!

86. storm Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 9:01 am

    Comments regarding fans at most high school soccer games listed several times above. Soccer fans are usually noticed and heard because they are few and and far between as compared to football. Individuals whom are passionate toward the game and their student athletes seem to go with the games reputation. After attending soccer and football games for many years I have come to the conclusion the game grows on you and even though I wish more fans would attend it becomes the highlight of the week to see these fine athletes shine without helmets, which makes them recognizable from the stands. Any EBAL game is is worth attending and more folks should be enjoying a game currently under the radar.

87. GlobalSoccer Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 9:07 am

    This is high school so some coaches substitute to gratify players, parents and themselves. The HS programs that are usually on the top year after year don’t generally do this.

    Furthermore, the teams that have logical and tactical substitutions tend to have less of an up and down year and more consistent growth(as a team). IE: Up and down year: MV and SRV; Growth: CAL, DLS, Newark, Campo, BOD.

88. 028159 Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 9:47 am

    Followed this blog for awhile now and love everybody’s interest and passion for the local high school soccer. But one thing that’s always irked me: I know this is the internet and anything goes but if you’re an adult (parent or just an interested fan) don’t come on this blog and start ripping these kids. They don’t want or need that at this age. The kids themselves will come on here and talk smack to each other and that’s fine, and kind of fun for us adults to see… but think before you post.

89. Old HAAL Dad Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 9:57 am

    GlobalSoccer I’ll except that as a logical explanation and would agree with your choices of Up and Down vs Growth teams. As far as parents and players I think they just want to win baby put the best 11 on the field. I’m not sure how many coaches during the heat of battle are thinking hey I’ve got to get Johnny into the game to get some experience for next year. I’m just saying there are some substitutions being made that are having negative results.

90. love the game Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 10:32 am

    GlobalSoccer

    your assessment of the MV SRV game gives me an indication of your soccer knowledge, and your stock as an analyst just went way down. SRV dominated the first half and not just for 6 minutes, Juisti, who you put down, in fact socred the first goal.

    The second half changed with MV dominating the midfield but this would not have translated to any goals, had the SRV keeper’s head been in the game, which is pretty typical for MV game, good possession team but not a threat in finishing. SRV owned the first half, MV the second half, and it should have been a tie. You seem to have a vested interest here?

    In the CAL DLS game you claim the ball Bernardi shot was over the line and you were on the line to see it?? seriously. If you recall the play the AR was on the line and the goalie held the ball for a few seconds to show that it had not crossed the line. But evidently you have better vision….

    you also go on to say,

    “This is high school so some coaches substitute to gratify players, parents and themselves. The HS programs that are usually on the top year after year don’t generally do this.”

    I would disagree with you as that is more of a club soccer phenomena..

    I think you should go back to watching american football, because you dont understand this game.

91. ALBfan#1 Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 10:41 am

    we should all be reasonable now i have seen these posts for the last couple of weeks and albany not being a threat makes me laugh but its ok our underdog team will be strong when playoff comes.They maybe have a lost to st marys early in the season but they have been 8-0 but they beat pinole and they should of killed pinole and thats just funny to me how albany doesnt reallly get recognized. Last year they went to semi of ncs just keep a look out on them. Yes they did loose alot of senior but they have a team still full of talent that could make it to any other D1 high school and the chemisrty isn’t 100 percent there yet but once NCS comes around you guys will see the potential

92. GlobalSoccer Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 11:20 am

    Love the Game: I’ve been playing, coaching and teaching the game for 30+ years. I do not put down the kids just note the obvious facts. BTW, it is Guisti.
    MV’s goal was a take away in the middle, sent wide and then crossed back to the middle. Shouldn’t SRV’s mids gotten back to cover? It was a good finish. Why trash the SRV goalie? MV’s striker surprised the slightly out of position GK and hit a great ball. That was a good finish as well. The striker has done it a couple of times before.

    At CAL, the ball went over the line. The GK did a great job of playing it off. Good for CAL, bad for DLS. Just a fact.

    Subs: Let me see: MV = 21 subs. CAL = 8 subs over a complete game. If you know anything about boy’s/men’s club/academy’s you would know this is not a phenomena. They typically put the best on the field with minimal changes. The girls on the other hand have many changes in club as well as HS.

    Love the Game: Don’t let your rose color glasses mislead you from the facts.

93. love the game Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 11:35 am

    makes sense Global soccer

    30 years ago american soccer and american football were very close, because we did not understand the game then, your caught in the past, btw how do you know how many subs MV had? are you their statistician?

94. GlobalSoccer Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 11:48 am

    Love The Game: one should only speak if you have facts. I keep detailed notes on games I see. If you know futbol (and it is not soccer or football), you need to know exactly when there are game transitions and points of impact.

    I could hire you to keep stats in other games in order to cover more games.

95. Love The Game Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    Global Soccer

    If it’s futbol why are you global “soccer”?

    Put down your pencil and watch the game, because you’re missing it.

96. guesswhatteam09' Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    parents from the EBAL always sit on the home side at DLS…barely any teams sit on the away side at DLS. Also, the car that was honking the horn belonged to CAL students, i know them and they thought it was funny to distract DLS players. So nice assumption #80 but you’re wrong. Parents usually share sidelines with the home team, but if you’d rather focus on that than the game then get out of this forum.

97. Matthew Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Guesswhatteam09′ (DLS) don’t take it personal it just seemed odd. You also talked so much about the game. Maybe you should get out if you don’t like what’s posted.

98. eastbaysoccerfan Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    Props to Cal for winning and proving my prediction wrong. I wasnt at the game, but it sounds like it was a good one.

99. Matthew Says:
    January 19th, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    How will DLS and CAL come out of the big match?
    Will CAL keep things rolling? or will they have a let down against a very tough Livermore team after such a big win for CAL?
    Will DLS rebound from such a disapointing lose (Looked like they had it for a while.)and get another win streak going? or will they strugle to get things rolling again? The next few weeks will be very interesting!

100. Old HAAL Dad Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 3:18 pm

     All very good questions Matthew but don’t forget about the rest of the EBAL, the other six teams are not conceding anything to Cal or DLS. If nothing else there is the spoiler factor, for example, dont’ you think Foothill would love to knock either Cal or DLS out of the top spot? They both will be in the NCS but this is for EBAL bragging rights which is huge to all the teams in that league.

101. Old HAAL Dad Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 3:55 pm

     Albfan#1, Good for you, keep talking up your team. We need to hear more from your side of the hill. Haven’t seen Albany this year but I did last year and they were pretty good. I’ll try and catch the Encinal game. However, if it’s recognition you’re after then Albany will have to schedule tougher competition in the pre season to grab this blog’s attention.

102. love the game Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 5:20 pm

     Matt,

     I wanted to mention that at the CAL DLS game, the CAL score keeper did the same thing I asked you about last week. They stopped the clock at 2 minutes in the first half and let the ref call half, and then in the second half they were letting it tick down to 0, when the referee told them to stop it, I believe it was with approx 1 minute and 36 seconds to go in the match.

     Evidently the referee wanted the same treatment of the clock for both halves. Did this ref miss apply the EBAL rule?

103. ebaljunkie Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 5:53 pm

     what happened with the clock was that the time keeper kept the clock running on an injury that took up 5 minutes or so. The ref told the time keeper to stop the clock because it was so far off the actual time. He had time and did a good job of controlling time and the game.

104. Matt Smith Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 6:05 pm

     The EBAL rule is definitely to run the clock to zero. Which I don’t like because the ref has to tell the clock operator every single time he wants it stopped. The ref should be able to keep the time himself in the top league in the East Bay.

     And ebaljunkie telling us that just proves the point that it should just be stopped at two and handled on the field.

105. EBALsporter Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 7:21 pm

     Well after skimming through this website I am appalled with some of these absurd comments. There is no doubt in my mind that the majority of your comments are bias, due to you having a child on the team you are “bragging” about. And as a athletic fanatic especially in the EBAL League I attend more games than any of you. Yesterday I had the pleasure to visit Danville and witness a great rivalry game. SR played very well, but MV gave it their all and it was apparent to all viewers. And now coming on her seeing how MV is not getting the respect they deserve I felt obligated to share my insight. Monte Vista has an overall great team. I would have to say they have the most depth of any EBAL team, they were substituting non-stop in a close rivarly game, and still looked phenomenal. There goalie situation is not the best but yesterday i witnessed amazinf defense by Bryan Hromatko and Timothy Mckee. They both know how to play aggressive yet controlled defense and both have the skill to carry the ball onto the offensive side of the field. I don’t know if they are playing in college does anyone know? You can tell that McKee loves his team and gives it his all, all of the time. And a fellow spectator informed me that Hromatko a defense man had two goals in a victory a week ago. That is unreal, and MV played with wit and skill. There offense is a little bit behind the level it could be at because the coach subs a lot so it is hard for the players to get rhythm going. I would not be surprised if MV finishes the second half of the season in 1st place. Watch out for the mustangs in the NCS finals as well.

106. SoccerGuy Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 7:30 pm

     From what I’ve heard, a certain principal doesn’t trust referees and had the league rule changed to run the scoreboard clock down to zero (never heard of this set-up at any other level of the sport). The catch to this rule is- if the school doesn’t have an “official” clock operator, the time can be kept by the referee.

     Cal High probably doesn’t have an “official” clock guy (i.e., an individual who acts completely unbiased in all emotional situations, such as, not stopping the clock during the closing minutes to give the home team, down a goal, more time).

     It sounds like the referees are keeping the official time on the field at Cal, while the other EBAL schools have been able to find a completely unbiased “official” clock operator (cough..parent..cough).

107. EbalDad Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 7:56 pm

     Evening All,
     A few thoughts from the cheap seats.
     EBAL clock rules are the exact same as for NCAA soccer matches. The clock on the scoreboard is the official time. If the referee has a disagreement with it, he/she can always ask for it to be reset. The clock is to stop for all goals, injuries and cautions given to a player if the referee signals the clock operator. Again, this is the same as the NCAA.
     As for subbing patterns etc. I know we all have a passion for this game, but please don’t forget that this is High School Athletics. As the referees remind the players and coaches before each contest, the event is an extension of the classroom. The coaches are supposed to be teachers/role models on the sidelines. While Club Soccer (“hey I paid my $ my child should play”) and EPL soccer fans may not understand or agree with substitution frequency or the subbing at all (and I think that the restrictions on subbing in the international game makes for a better sporting event)please remember that the coaches are doing their very best to manage their roster of 16+ teenage boys and they ALL want to play and contribute.
     As to “the EBAL, the other six teams are not conceding anything to Cal or DLS”
     I think it is reasonable to check the standings in the EBAL. CAL has a full two game lead over MV with 7 matchs to be played.
     EBAL standings:
     California 19
     Monte Vista 13
     De La Salle 12
     San Ramon Valley 12
     Livermore 12
     Granada 10
     Foothill 4
     Amador Valley 0

     so not only is the EBAL not conceeding anything to DLS, they aren’t even in second place!
     just saying.

     Enjoy the second half of the season. No other league has the depth and consistency of tough matches that the EBAL does.

     Great soccer and no injuries are my wish to you all.

108. Matthew Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 8:46 pm

     Anyone know what happened with Logan and Newark? wasn’t that match tonight?

109. Futbolll Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 9:04 pm

     I agree with comment #105 EBALsporter. The defense of Monte Vista has impressed me much more than ever expected. Bryan Hromatko saved a sure goal in the first half of yesterdays game, granted the followed up shot by an SRV player hit the back of the net but nevertheless the defensive play was unreal. Not only Bryan Hromatko but Tim McKee and Jeff Beltran as well. It is apparent that Tim McKee is the vocal leader of this team, and the sport of soccer dictates his life. His passion for the game is exactly what I like to see in a young man and I have the utmost respect for him. As for Beltran, his motor never stops. His nonchalance is an art and beautiful to watch. The word panic is not in his vocabulary.
     On a side note I was very disappointed in 1 MV player who clearly is not a “Team-Player”. I believe his name is Dimitri?#10. He went into the game late and got fouled once or twice. Coach then pulled him out where he proceeded to throw a temper tantrum punching the bench. When the final whistle blew he left the field in a rage without celebrating the team’s huge win. Just a little something that bothered me a little bit.

     As far as the rest of the MV team the heart outweighs any other tangible talent one player can possess and I wish them the best of luck!

110. guesswhatteam09' Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 9:17 pm

     matthew,

     you’re cute haha. i don’t need to talk about the game seeing as i proved my worth when i attended high school. nice try tho.

111. EBALsporter Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 9:37 pm

     I also left this out as I got carried into the MV DLS soccer game. Cal is very over rated. Ya ya ya I know they have the best record and all that nonsense but most of their players have played on the same club team for multiple years, and now EBAL teams are getting their team chemistry and are coming for CAL. MV may have had some weak links in the first half but look for a great showing in the second half of the season. MV starts it off tomorrow with DLS at home, and I would put a hefty sum of money on MV. They beat them last time and they have the advantage over a less skilled team. Also MV played CAL earlier this season and lost a heartbreaker 1-0 from a fluke goal. I can’t wait for that game to come around. My predictions say MV will lose only 1 game the second half of this season but will go undefeated in the playoff run as they reclaim their NCS championship. Anyone disagree

112. BigEasy Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 9:51 pm

     MV came out to play last night. I was in attendance and I was very impressed with how hard MV played. They all play together and it is fun to watch! MV seemed to be feeding off of its fans who also came out LOUD. Many of the equipped with vuvuzelas, this made the game that much more fun. MV plays home again tomorrow vs DLS..it should be a good one. I will sure as hell be there.

113. Love The Game Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 10:08 pm

     Matt,

     What are your predictions for tomorrow and what are the big games?

114. SoccerScout Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 10:15 pm

     Just got back from the Logan-Newark game, Newark won 1-0. Newark did possess the ball more than Logan, but it was definitely one of the greatest high school games ive attended. The match was intense from beginning to moment. Newark scored on a PK, which the goalkeeper nearly saved. From my angle it didnt look like a penalty, but it was called, i really dont think it was though. Late into the second half, A logan player deliberately kicked a Newark player from behind, and a big scuffle broke out but was calmed down. Logan played with 10 men for the last 20 minutes as 10 minutes of stoppage time was given. Ulloa was shut down all night by Newarks defense. Navarro began a couple of counter-attacks but the Logan defense stood them up. This is the best game ive been to this year. Even all the fans get so into it, taking drums and vuvuzelas, constantly making noise the whole game. I think this is the best rivalry in all NCS. Logan will be looking to get back at them at their home field in February.

115. Matt Smith Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 11:02 pm

     A couple of things…

     The officiating at the St. Mary’s v. Piedmont match was the worst I think I’ve seen since I started covering soccer three years ago.

     And Love The Game, you are crazy if you think I am going to do predictions again. Did you see how bad I did? And I’m pretty sure Acalanes people hate my guts. But they must love that they can rub it in my face! Haha.

     Okay, maybe I’ll try again in the morning…

116. ebal fan Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 11:15 pm

     EBALsporter,
     You say this blog is biased, and you come on saying that MV will win NCS and that isn’t biased at all right. You say the CAL guys have played ball together? Look at the MV roster, 19 seniors and most of them on the same club team besides Zamora.

     However, I do think tomorrow night, CAL goes down.

117. ebal fan #2 Says:
     January 19th, 2011 at 11:31 pm

     When do we get to talk about football again?

118. Piedmont#1fan Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 4:22 am

     St. Mary’s 3, Piedmont 0???????

119. Matthew Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 6:12 am

     If Livermore is to beat CAL they better have a much, much better game than last game. Livermore was at home I believe with all of thier starters, while CAL was missing 2 starters also 1 key player played with the flue and another just reterned from football. I’m not saying Livermore can’t do it but CAL only seems to get respect from the CAL fans only.(14-0-1) Go back and check how many people pick CAL to lose, some numerous times. Yea they’re overated #111 good luck tonight against DLS. I feel the 2 best teams CAL has played, should be a good one.

120. love the game Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 7:08 am

     Matthew,

     I have predicted CAL to lose as well only to be wrong,
     CAL deserves credit, I just did not expect them to be in the position they are in after this week. Whether you like or dislike CAL they have earned the top spot.

     Having said that, CAL has won some tight games with only one goal and this is soccer where the best team does not always win. Having an undefeated tag puts additional pressure on CAL, that quite frankly gives the other team a slight advantage should they be fortunate enough to score first against CAL. A loss for CAL before playoffs may be good for them, to get that additional pressure off of them.

121. kickball1662 Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:17 am

     SoccerScout,

     i agree with you , one of the best high school games i attended! Very exciting since minute one. Newarks defense completely shut down ulloa! That was a key for newark… Navarro did some damage not as much though, they actually fouled Navarro for a pk to make it 1-0. I believe the rematch @ Logan ill be even more intense and better! definately will be there… will be fun to see them play in Logans field, since Newark is so use to playing in a bumpy grass field.

122. Old HAAL Dad Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:22 am

     EBAL “Athletic” supporter you must be a current or past MV Student, Player, Teacher, Coach or Parent who has sipped from the MV coolaid cup. NCS Championship? How about wining your next game first. That’s pretty bold talk with such a long way to go in the season. Good luck tonight the “Stangs” are going to need it.

123. Old HAAL Dad Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:35 am

     Kickball, is Logan’s field still the original first generation of astro turf “hard as a rock” or have they upgraded to the new turf style field?

124. mval Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 12:19 pm

     Logan still has the same field.
     What a game last night. I cant wait for round two. Logan has to be itching for a victory over newark now, but it looked to me like Newark was the more talented team last night.
     I agree with SoccerScout that this matchup has to be the best rivalry in ncs.

125. Matt Smith Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 1:26 pm

     In last night’s St. Mary’s v. Piedmont game, it was actually sophomore Josh Espinoza that scored the first goal. I hope this correction makes up for my mistake.

126. Scout Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 3:12 pm

     Upcoming D2 games.. Game of the year at least I’m division 2. No need for other talk until after that game

     Acalanes @ Campo. January 26
     6:15

127. THEanonymous Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 3:42 pm

     I predict Cal will not lose more than one game in the second half, and likely not even. As far as #120′s last sentence, I think the tie against Foothill was a necessity that showed them what they needed to know to realize they shouldn’t try directly for the underrated record, but the EBAL and NCS titles, and Cal doesnt also need a loss to learn something like that. But we’ll see, after all thats why we watch sports, you dont know who’s going to win. They one hundred percent control their destiny right now, and they might just be focused on that. Good luck against Livermore o mighty Grizzlies!

128. Futbollll Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 3:46 pm

     To Comment #122, Old HAAL Dad. Are the quotations around the word “Stangs” supposed to mean something derogatory towards this powerful mustang squad? Because if so I would love to watch you eat your words after this season. As far as the Kool-Aid EBALsporter has been “sipping” on, red and black Kool-Aid hydrates most of the city of Danville. I’ll drink that Kool-Aid dry before I even look towards that Green and Silver.

129. The Sweeper Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 5:32 pm

     Two tough matches in the EBAL tonight with a #3 at #1 and another #3 at #2. It is time for MV and Livermore to back up their bloggers and play up to their potential. You’ve got to win 5 in the second half to improve your positions. Otherwise, its just blah, blah, blah…and you could have to hit the road in NCS. Good luck and good health to all.

     BTW, where I come from “Stangs” is an old school compliment. Duh!

130. Just Sayin' Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 5:44 pm

     Arroyo is on a Roll!! They just beat SLZ 3-2! Quite a bit of Rough play by both teams. Way too much standing around and watching by SLZ. SLZ better pick it up they got too much talent to lose by lack of hustle. Keep it up Arroyo You’re on Fire!

131. Longtimesoccerfan Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 7:43 pm

     Granada beat amador 5-1. Not even a match.

132. AvFan Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:11 pm

     ouch…on Granada – AV score. My Dons are having a really tough year. For AV fans we have to have hope that we’re building for a good year in the future.

133. Bobby Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:13 pm

     Who’s got EBAL score updates?!?

134. storm Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:13 pm

     MV tied DLS 1-1 DLS scored in the last minute of the game. MV outplayed DLS but just could not finish to the end on a corner kick…..

135. Bobby Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:22 pm

     AV has tons of talent on their JV and frosh teams – why are they not bringing some of those players up to the big squad to help out?!?

136. Matt Smith Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:28 pm

     Cal 0, Liv 0
     MV 1, DLS 1
     Granada 5, AV 1

137. haal Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:32 pm

     thank you for your observation #130 arroyo is really rolling now
     hey # 48 i guess preseason game against arroyo on 12-21-10 game at james logan (arroyo 3-1 win)does not count also #123 the field is still the old hard stuff just a new look (this stuff should NOT be still played on) arroyo is 5-0-3 with good wins against logan, hayward, & now slz, with ties against mt. eden & Bishop o’dowd

     KEEP MOVING FORWARD ARROYO
     (as stated by #130 you guys ARE on fire, hot)

138. Haal Fanatic Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:32 pm

     Hayward high 2 Bishop O’dowd 0

139. BigEasy Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:35 pm

     Just got back from the MV DLS game and it was a thriller. MV definitely outplayed the Spartans the whole game. DLS got lucky on a ball bouncing around in the box last minute. Great game but this game does show the strength of MV. I see them bouncing back from this loss and finishing strong. They play very hard and for each other. Someone stated earlier that MV’s weakness is their goalies, not tonight. Dan Roth had a tremendous save that kept them alive. MV’s got depth all around the field, a major bonus for them. Look for the “Stangs” to take care of business in the future. They learned their lesson tonight.

140. haal Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:38 pm

     way to go hayward, now with slz’s loss to arroyo on 1-20-11 the league is all jumbled up for a good finish, can matt cue in on this a bit for the race is now open
     who will finish where???

141. Futbollll Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:40 pm

     The DLS MV game was lopsided in favor of the mustangs all game. It really says something when Monte Vista is devastated about the tie, and DLS could not be happier about the tie. As far as standout players it is always that MV defense for me. For 78 straight minutes these defenders kept the ball out of the net, and without the three studs (Beltran, Hromatko, and McKee) in the back the MV team would be lacking the intensity and skill they now possess.
     MV also had a brilliant scoring opportunity with around 3 minutes left in the game to seal the victory as Matt Brown had a breakaway that he just could not finish. 30 seconds later the ball found the back of the MV net and left the MV team and fans speechless.

     As for the officiating, I enjoyed that he let the boys play by not using his whistle excessively, but DLS was hacking all night, and a couple blatant fouls went uncalled. With the leadership of this MV defense, they will bounce back from this FLUKE tie and bring it to the top teams in EBAL in the near future.

142. love the game Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:57 pm

     PRESENT STANDINGS IN EBAL AFTER TONIGHT:

     CAL 20
     SRV 15
     MV 14
     DLS 13
     Livermore 13
     Granda 13
     Foothill 4
     Amador Valley 0

143. ebal fan Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 8:58 pm

     It definitely sounds like I should have caught the DLS vs MV game. I was late so I went to see what I thought what would be an even game and the game where the Grizzlies could go down against Livermore. It wasn’t one sided, but it was definitely in CAL’s favor as they have learned to keep the ball a little and their play maker was more involved today keeping the ball moving penetrating balls, he finally showed up as I talked to their coach and he pointed it out as well, as someone you can’t give time on the ball. CAL had the majority of chances with a few point blank shots but couldn’t finish. On the other side, Livermore played a little more defensive, with #7 being very dangerous as he was the only option for them. I like the kid a lot as he attacks and attacks.

     CAL needs to learn how to finish, too many chances not put away. Their defense played well again.

144. bambam Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:06 pm

     Wow! #138 & #139 It’s good to be excited for your Mustangs as it’s been a while I guess. They sound like their in the NCS hunt.
     Between the two post I read the following. MV dominated the whole game but the MV goalie isn’t as bad as people perceive him to be by making a tremendous save to keep them in the game. DLS got lucky on a bouncing ball late. “I was glad to see the CR let them play but DLS was hacking all night. MV learned a lesson tonight.

     DLS was probably happy with a tie at the end if they scored the equalizer late in the match. DLS does play aggressive but I have yet to see a Mustang soccer club player or parent state that they ever foul in a match. Believe me as my children have played for and against the club, so I know first hand that it only goes one way for people in that town.

     MV is having a good season and hopefully you see my point that the two post sound as little over board.

     Good luck with the rest of your season!!!

145. Closeup Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:26 pm

     MV vs DLS – Objectively submitted, MV dominated all of the first half, winning hustle plays, striking the posts twice and unlucky not to be up 3-0. Second half, was more evenly played with MV dominating the first half of the second, and DLS coming in strong at the end. MV keeper made a crucial diving save diving to the right towards the end but DLS made an equally great save off a 1v1 to keep his side within striking shot. MV outside defenders were making several great overlap runs and feeding their hardworking and fast forwards to catch DLS on counter attacks. MV played at a very fast pace through three quarters of the game and had the skills to match. If they can play 40 minutes at that pace, they could be a serious NCS threat.

146. THEanonymous Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:30 pm

     Next week Tuesday:
     CAL @ GRA
     SRV @ DLS
     LIV @ FOOT
     MV @ AV
     Thursday:
     GRA @ DLS
     SRV @ LIV
     CAL @ AV
     FOOT @ MV
     Four huge games and four fairly predictable ones, two of each per day.

147. BVAL Fan Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:36 pm

     Deer Valley 3, Heritage 0

148. Barney Barnyard Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:38 pm

     Another nice win for the Granada gang. Amador seems better than their record indicates. They try the entire game and never seem to catch a break. As far as Granada goes, Garrett Foster ( 3 goals 2 assists tonite) and Trevor Long ( 2 goals and 1 assist tonite) up top seem to be clicking on all cylinders. Coming off a big win against Livermore where the duo accounted for all 3 goals ( Long 2 goals 1 assist, Foster 1 goal 2 assists ). They both have terrific speed around the corner and seem to be connecting very well right now.

     Getting Danny O’Neil back the past few games made a huge difference on the back line. His toughness and physical presence are essential to the Matadors success. His reappearance has allowed Long to go back to work with Foster up top. The last 2 weeks have seen the Mats put in 11 goals in 4 games ( 5 from Long 5 from Foster ). Granted it has come against the lower half of the league. We will see if they can continue this scoring glut against the best ( Cal next then DLS then MV ).

     Regardless, it’s been some of the most exciting soccer this season for the Back and Gold. GO MATS!

149. The Sweeper Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:49 pm

     I did not catch the Foothill @SRV score, but posters indicate SRV won. If so…

     Well, well, well, let’s recap the EBAL results. Livermore and MV lost ground to SRV, and did not gain on Cal or DLS. Meanwhile, Granada is lurking. Blah, blah, blah.

     I saw much of the match at Cal. Relatively even because Livermore played more conservatively, often leaving 2, 3 and even 4 defenders back, even on their corners and set plays. Cal is more explosive but could not catch a break all night, with a strong measure of credit to the Cowboy defenders and their experienced keeper. These teams seem to know each other all too well, and a third match result would be hard to predict.

     If you are not in first place now, you probably need to go 5-1 the rest of the way, or you could end up playing at Berkeley, at Deer Valley or at Newark in NCS. The race for 2nd and 3rd in EBAL will be exciting, with absolutely NO guarantees. Guarantees are just so much blah, blah, blah.

150. Matthew Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:52 pm

     Eastbaysoccerfan.. CAL 1 goal agianst this week, (DLS 1,Lvmr 0) not even close to 5. Back to the drawing board. OH, a win and a tie, not 2 losses. Lets hear what you have for next week. ( #2 post)

151. ebal fan Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 9:56 pm

     I think I spotted the sweeper today. Livermore and CAL do know each other very well, a few of their players seem to be close friends. Cal just needs to finish, keep players involved. I have not seen Berkeley play, anyone fill me in on how EBAL teams will do against them?

152. The Sweeper Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 10:15 pm

     See Berkeley for yourself on Saturday at Acalanes at noon. See the Yellow Jackets while avoiding the tunnel. Cheers.

153. JFPhotoGuy Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 10:29 pm

     Pictures from tonight’s Cal-Livermore game are available for online viewing using the following link:

     http://goodchris.smugmug.com/CalHighSoccer2010-2011/CalHighvsLivermore1-20-2011/

     Enjoy,

     The FJPhotoGuy

154. eastbaysoccerfan Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 11:02 pm

     look up and find my post where I gave props to Cal….

155. The Sweeper Says:
     January 20th, 2011 at 11:26 pm

     Hey JFPhotoGuy,

     Great shots from the Livermore v. Cal match. Your lens captured the intensity and flow of the ‘beautiful game’ played at Cal tonight. Photos #122 & #123 caught a unique moment of the flying action.

     BTW, the shots with cameo images of The Sweeper are not authorized, and you may just be contacted by my attorney-to-be, Matt Smith, from the BANG. Seriously, great work from the sidelines. Cheers.

     Parents and players! Check out the great photos and buy some from this entrepreneurial group that works on spec.

156. Matthew Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 8:46 am

     Nice job Livermore, the 1st team to shutout CAL. The defenders and keeper had a great game and a great result, helping other teams stay in touch of CAL.

157. Closeup Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 9:13 am

     Matt:

     How will the EBAL results affect your rankings this weekend I wonder?
     Cal win and a tie, Livermore loss to yet unranked team and a tie with #1, SRV loss to MV and win over lowly AV, MV a win and a tie against tough opponents, DLS a loss and a tie…. Hmmmm? Don’t envy your job but we love to poke fun at it.

158. Closeup Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 9:33 am

     Correction: SRV’s win was over Foothill. Also notices top ranked teams from the other leagues did well this past week. I think the parity between divisions, leagues(with the exception OAL and BSAL) is slimmer than ever. EBAL and DFAL seem to be the tougher leagues in the respective divisions still though.

159. JFPhotoGuy Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 10:19 am

     Sweeper,

     Thanks for your kind words. I agree that #122 & #123 demonstrate the sheer athleticism of these hard working kids.

     FYI, I price these pictures very cheap because I feel my skills are still being developed. If you find an image that you like I would recommend buying the file for download and then print them at Costco where you can get a 4×6 for .13, a 5×7 for .39 and an 8×10 for 1.49.

     As to your cameo images I have your model release form on file from your bathing suit shoot last year…

160. Matt Smith Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 10:43 am

     Hey Closeup,

     This will be my most challenging week for rankings. I will have to decide what to do about Cal, DLS, Liv, MV the Berkeley/Acalanes winner and loser, and then the HAAL threw a monkey wrench into everything with Arroyo beating San Lorenzo and Hayward beating O’Dowd.
     This will be a tough week.

161. GHSALUM Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 11:42 am

     If I were any of the EBAL coaches, I would be very afraid of what Granada has evolved into. They are a totally different team starting the last half of the season. I don’t know if they will make NCS, but Foster and Long are REALLY clicking right now and ANY team this dynamic duo will face are going to find it very hard to contain them. Just ask Livemore and Amador….
     Keep flyin under the radar boys…..

162. Soccer2014 Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 11:45 am

     The Amador Valley freshman squad is presently 14-0-0 with 68 goals for and 5 against. Maybe there’s hope for the future?

163. GHSALUM Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 1:20 pm

     Just as someone else asked, why are they not moving up some of the underclassmen at Amador? They would definitely help, and if the freshman team is dominating that much, it is not challenging them enough, and it will not really help in there individual development either.

164. storm Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 1:23 pm

     Matt
     Would like to have an opportunity to objectively rate the EBAL teams along side the parents and players currently attempting to recognize student athletes from their team.
     1. Livermore
     When they are all healthy their defense is solid and they can finish. All EBAL teams would not want to play them in NCS if they are healthy.
     2. MV
     They swarm to the ball with amazing speed. Their defense was mentioned above by name but the writer forgot to mention the support from the front and middle given by their swarming passion for the game. They can make up for mistakes by the back line.
     3. Cal
     The very best defense in the league. They can play to a zero tie and depend on PK’s if necessary.
     4.SRV
     A young team with great upside. A solid coach who has them playing at a higher level than the individual parts. They are next years team to watch.
     5. Granada
     They have a great defender and solid forward whom play with passion and you don’t want to see them for a game in the NCS.

     I predict Livermore will win NCS.

165. Old HAAL Dad Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 3:31 pm

     #128 Sorry I spelled Kool Aid wrong personally I don’t drink the stuff either figuratively or literally. Sweepers got it right back in the day my sons used to play against the Mustang clubs and their opening cheer ended with “Stangs”. Let set the record straight, my youngest graduated from H.S. 13 years ago and it wasn’t from an EBAL school. His school did win two NCS titles though so it can be done outside the EBAL. My point is I don’t have any league or team favorites anymore and frankly it’s much less stressful when you don’t have offspring on the pitch, you’re able to be much more objective but I do miss it. Sooo I enjoy the game vicariously through other folks kids and I also live on the 680 corridor so it’s convenient to catch EBAL games. I will agree that the EBAL, top to bottom, is the toughest scoccer league in not only the East Bay but the entire Bay Area. There I said it! Sooo drink all the Kool Aid you want regardless of the color I don’t really care. One more thing, never go into a battle of wits
     1/2 armed. Good Luck “Stang” MV is a very good side!

166. Old HAAL Dad Says:
     January 21st, 2011 at 3:52 pm

     #125 I was also at the Arroyo/SLZ match and agree that SLZ didn’t look jazzed up for the game until Arroyo got the first goal then things got serious. Arroyo would bend but not break even though SLZ was pressing pretty hard in the second half. Arroyo has a big and fast back line that frustrated the SLZ attack. SLZ is suffering at keeper, the first goal was clearly miss played but a goal none the less. I love that this win has thrown the HAAL into a dog fight and look forward to the rest of the second half of the season. I also agree with an earlier comment about getting help from the JV’s, I was surprised to see Arroyo show with 13 players and that included the goal keeper. I believe the starting 11 played the entire game. I can’t remember if there was a substitution for an injury or not.

167. The Sweeper Says:
     January 22nd, 2011 at 10:32 am

     #165. OHD – I agree with your comment about the EBAL top to bottom. It holds true for EBAL girls soccer as well, perhaps more so. That dang Stang program sells more Kool-Aid than Safeway and Lucky combined, and the parents drink it as much the kids…

168. Matt Smith for president Says:
     January 22nd, 2011 at 4:35 pm

     Acalanes vs Berkeley score?

169. Matt Smith Says:
     January 22nd, 2011 at 4:55 pm

     1-0 Berkeley.

     MV beat Richmond 4-1.

170. Soccerfan Says:
     January 22nd, 2011 at 6:01 pm

     Pitt 3-0 win over foothill

171. Old HAAL Dad Says:
     January 24th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

     Good call Sweeper but I won’t drink the Kool Aid unless it’s braced with a little Vodka, for medicinal purposes only of course. Also “Those Dang Stangs” very clever.

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