TCAL league starts after Christmas break, with Live Oak, San
Benito and North Salinas the teams to beat
The Acorns have the sure foot of Sergio Avila and haven’t lost
in the preseason. The Balers’ weapon is Brian Vargas, an Olympic
Development Player. The Mustangs’ defense, however, has awakened
after a slow start and could play havoc with both.
TCAL league starts after Christmas break, with Live Oak, San Benito and North Salinas the teams to beat
The Acorns have the sure foot of Sergio Avila and haven’t lost in the preseason. The Balers’ weapon is Brian Vargas, an Olympic Development Player. The Mustangs’ defense, however, has awakened after a slow start and could play havoc with both.
Just who will walk away with the Tri County Athletic League men’s soccer title will become more clear beginning Jan. 10, when the league season opens.
Until then, here is a preview of the teams, their strengths and weaknesses listed in their predicted order of finish.
Live Oak Acorns-The Acorns have shot out of the cannon during the preseason. Thanks to the sure foot of its leading scorer Sergio Avila and the defensive schemes of Coach Tony Goble the Acorns have compiled a 5-0-3 record. Goble’s defense has only allowed two goals all season and according to Goble, the team is still gelling. The Acorns defense has been helped by the physical play of Stephen Johnson and the assists of Anthony Rouzouk. The TCAL title, however, will not be handed to the Acorns. North Salinas and San Benito are also expected to make a strong push for the first TCAL banner.
San Benito Haybalers- After years of languishing at the bottom of the league standings the Haybalers have finally made headway toward the top. The rise in solid play coincides with the arrival of Coach Mike Warner and the emergence of Brian Vargas. Vargas, an Olympic Development Program player, leads a talented and experienced squad that missed the Central Coast Section playoffs by one game. The Haybalers will immediately improve when Elias Barocio returns from a separated shoulder and Isidro Trujillo’s forearm heals. Thus far the Haybalers have the best-rated defense in the league. The Haybalers open the TCAL season on January 10 with a tough match against the Acorns at home.
North Salinas Vikings-If any team can turn the TCAL standings on its ear, it is the Vikings. The Vikes feature Immanuel Gonzales on offense and Christian Tzintzun and Alex Vaca on defense. This team is quick and improved from last year. The Vikings lost its leading scorer Felipe Gutierrez to graduation but Gonzales has filled in nicely and has the team motoring. Just as quick as the Vikings can win, the team can also go into a slide that could land them near the bottom of the standings. A rash of blown leads last season was the only sour note the Vikings’ hit all year. If the team can cut out the shaky finishes, look out.
Gilroy Mustangs-The Mustangs defense is rounding into shape just at the right time. With the TCAL season opener two weeks away the Mustangs have given up on its charitable ways and has turned into Scrooge as Christmas draws closer. In its first six games of the preseason, the Mustangs surrendered 13 goals and not surprisingly lost three of those games, won once and tied twice. In its last two contests, the Mustangs gave up zero goals and are currently on a two game winning streak. The duo of forwards Horatio Arteaga and Javier Hernandez gives the Mustangs a deadly one-two punch that can score in a pinch.
Palma Chieftains-The Chieftains will sneak up on some of the frontrunners in the TCAL this season. The Chieftains are too talented not to. Striker, Luca Casabella is the real deal. He currently leads the team in goals with five and assists with four. Freshman Miguel Ganoa should compliment Casabella extremely well while Joey Melo is looking to improve on last year’s breakout season where he bagged three goals and two assists.
Salinas Cowboys-The Cowboys will improve and win the TCAL title. Just not this year. The Cowboys are in the midst of rebuilding and have two studs in Francisco and Juan Araujo to start with. The Araujo brothers cannot do it all by themselves. The Cowboys need to start with defense and grow from there. In its six preseason losses, the Cowboys have been outscored 34-2. Unacceptable.
