Exactly 30 years ago, a team from Hollister, competing in the
San Jose Soccer League, won their first league championship.
By Andrew Matheson Sports Editor
Hollister – Exactly 30 years ago, a team from Hollister, competing in the San Jose Soccer League, won their first league championship.
While that one team eventually blossomed in 2000 into the Hollister Soccer League, comprising today of 18 teams and approximately 360 players, the league is still relatively small when compared to other league sizes in Central and Northern California.
Of course, that David and Goliath mentality is not stopping the top 20 All-Star soccer players from the league to represent Hollister at the Copa Alianza, a state soccer tournament that will host 32 of the top soccer teams in Central and Northern California.
“It’d be awesome if 30 years later, we could win another championship,” said Carlos Vargas, president of the Hollister Soccer League.
The state tournament is one of 10 soccer tournaments that will take place nationally. It begins this weekend in Morgan Hill, and the winner will punch their ticket to the National Finals in Los Angeles in December.
Looking to capture the Alianza crown, the National Finals champion will be named “The Best Amateur Adult Hispanic Team in the Country.”
If that seems like a tough task, maybe even monumental, it is. But, no worry, Hollister has been here before, and even won before.
In 2004, prior to Copa Alianza had even originated, there was Copa Mexico. Hollister even hosted the tournament, and proceeded to use their home-field advantage against their opponents.
They defeated the San Jose Soccer League; then beat Watsonville; then they defeated Salinas; and finally, they upended the Association of the San Jose Soccer League, and were crowned champs and were headed to nationals.
However, political conflicts canceled the National Finals in Denver that year, and, as Vargas said, “That was it. No more Copa Mexico.”
Vargas added that it was a big blow, “especially for the players because they were excited to be going to nationals.”
Since then, the Copa Alianza has stepped in to fill the void that Copa Mexico left, but Hollister hasn’t returned to nationals since Copa Mexico folded.
In a league that is so small, Hollister certainly holds its own, though.
The Hollister Soccer League is comprised of two divisions of 18 teams. Normally, the Copa Alianza requests that the previous league champion play in the tournament, but since Hollister’s league is smaller than some of those in the San Jose area, they are allowed to pick the top players from the league to create an All-Star team.
“We’re going to play against the premier teams in Northern and Central California,” Vargas said. “But we have a pretty good team and pretty good players. I know the level (our opponents) play.”
Hollister’s coach, Mario Nunez, is in his rookie season coaching the team after being an assistant coach for the past five years. He finds that with a smaller league, it becomes easier to pick players to compete in Morgan Hill.
“These All-Star players,” Nunez said, “they’re good and they have experience already. We’re going to be playing against teams that have always been playing together, and this is our chance to prove that we belong.”
While being able to pick the top players from your league may seem like the more advantageous route, it comes with its drawbacks. Most notably, league champions have been playing together all year, whereas Nunez’ All-Stars have been practicing together for only the past month.
“We just have to be more of a team,” Nunez said. “We’re just going to focus on winning those first round games and get into that second round.”
Copa Alianza will begin Saturday at the Morgan Hill Sports Complex. Hollister is in Group H to start, which will be played as a round robin with the top team advancing to the second round.
Joining Hollister in the Group will be Athletico (Watsonville), Sahuayo (Redwood City) and Athletico Maya (Palo Alto), three teams that Hollister is familiar with.
Three weeks ago, Hollister tied Watsonville 2-2. Three months ago, they beat Palo Alto 3-1. And last year, they lost 3-1 to Redwood City.
“Me an Mario,” Vargas said, “we’ve just concentrated on what we can do to them. You don’t have to worry about other teams. Just worry about your team. Let them worry about us.”
