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NEXT WEEK: Crosstown Showdown Cate vs CHS Soccer
December 5 - 11, 2013
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biLL SWinG
Warrior soccer captains, from left, Juan Carlos Orozco and ricky Zermeño look to be the glue that brings a talented Carpinteria High School soccer squad together for the 2013-2014 campaign.
Warrior boys soccer mixes young talent with experience By PETEr Dugré
Second-year Carpinteria high School soccer coach Leonardo Quintero said one of the team’s early-season weaknesses should become its greatest strength. the roster contains experienced leadership and a core of underclassmen that has won national championships with Santa barbara Soccer Club. As a whole, the team is new, and will need to learn to play together. but that blank canvas presents an opportunity and is ripe with potential to be filled with big victories as the season progresses. “We need to communicate and make sure we understand each other and that everyone is on the same page,” Quintero said. the team will look to returning players Victor Saldaña, a junior striker, and seniors, striker Brandon Landeros and midfielder Juan Carlos Orozco, to control the attack. orozco, a speedy and versatile team leader, is an early season nominee for captain. Senior Ricky Zermeño returns on defense, and Jesus ortega is an additional senior leader coming back this season. the young core with national championship experience will occupy a chunk of the roster. “I’m looking to fill pieces around them,” Quintero said. They’ll be tasked with maintaining the Warrior tradition of winning tri-Valley League over the next three seasons. the Warriors are currently on a streak of winning 5-of-6 tVL championships. Sophomores Edward Delgado (goalkeeper), Benjie Garcia (midfield), Juan pablo Alvarez (defense) and eric Contreras (defense) and junior Francisco Arroyo (midfield) were a big part of the national championship Santa Barbara Soccer Club team over the past two seasons. At both the u14 and u15 levels, the players traveled the country to take on the top clubs in the tensest of environments.
Warrior girls soccer captains, from left, Kelsie Bryant, Alexa Benitez and Erin Durflinger, look to gather some wins for the 2013-2014 Carpinteria High School squad.
Warrior girls soccer looks to gel before TVL battle begins By PETEr Dugré
Carpinteria high School girls soccer holds out hope that it can steal some wins in a tough tri-Valley League this season. Co-captains erin durflinger, Kelsie bryant and Alexa benitez lead a core group of returning talent that will look to use ball control and a wide open attack to achieve the goal of making playoffs among a field of teams that includes deadly oaks Christian and oak park high schools. Joining the captains, other core returners include monica Garcia and Lesly Zapata. “our main goal with all of them is just to get them on the same page. it will take time, but I am confident we will get there,” third year coach Charles bryant said. Kelsie and benitez play the midfield, and Durflinger plays defense. Around the core group, sophomores Jessica meza and megan durflinger will battle for playing time as outside defenders. Freshman Ava Gropper will play at goalie. the Warriors faced an uphill battle last season—in which the team bumped
up to tri-Valley League—but were able to collect two league victories. “We actually graduated the most players out of all seven teams (in tVL) so it will be quite tough again,” Charles conceded. “A lot depends on how quickly we start to gel as a team.” Last season, oaks Christian came in second in the state. oak park was almost as good. La Reina, malibu and Santa paula high schools round out the division. “i am hoping we can make headway this season, upset a few of these schools and make it to CiF,” Charles said. Charles said ball control in the midfield will be key to collecting those wins, and offensively, the team will need to generate production from many players. Along the way, the team must shake off its rust, hone ball control skills and refine its tactics. “We are a step behind right now, but i am confident we will be a better team at the end of the season,” Charles said. “We just need to get a few games under our belt and gain some confidence.”
See SOCCER continued on page 21
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