Following last year’s CIF Division 7 championship, Poly’s boys soccer team returns to the playoffs and looks to bring another Division 7 championship back to Poly. So far, their success this postseason shows a promising future.
In their first round, Poly matched up against league rival Flintridge Prep, a team Poly had already beaten twice on their way to an undefeated league championship. With the season on the line and a rivalry at hand, the two teams both fought hard. In the first half, the game was deadlocked at 2-2 with junior striker Momo Tonthat chipping in both of the Panthers’ goals. In the second half, neither team could capitalize, and it was still tied by the end of the game. Now, it was time for extra time.
In the second period of extra time, Tonthat scored the golden goal, a penalty kick, to advance the Panthers 3-2. Tonthat commented later, “Everything we do during our games is driven by our desire to compete and to win, and I think this determination and passion will give us the title.”
In the second round, Poly hosted the Laguna Blanca Owls from Santa Barbara on Babcock Field. In the first half, Poly led 2-0 after two goals from Tonthat. While the Owls scored to make it 2-1, Poly fended off the away team and held on for a 2-1 victory, punching their ticket to the quarterfinals.
Sophomore midfielder Esa Martin reflected on the team’s success: “I think our game against Laguna had high energy, and we put a lot of effort into preparation for that game, which makes me believe that we could go even further if we keep putting our all into every game.”
The atmosphere of the playoffs has really intensified the team’s focus and discipline, both on the field and in practices. “Preparation for CIF is different because people realize these games could be our last,” Martin said. “It puts it in our minds that we have to fully prepare and not mess around during practices.”
This same mentality was on full display when Poly played Edgewood at San Marino High School in the quarterfinals. The match was a hard-fought battle, start to finish, with Poly going up 1-0 to open the game.
Then, as the second half came, Edgewood scored, leveling the playing field to 1-1. Just minutes after the equalizing goal, freshman midfielder Rudy Chavarria gave the Panthers the lead 2-1. The rest of the game was a defensive battle with both teams playing nearly flawless defense, but Poly ultimately secured the 2-1 victory.
Poly’s team, powered by experience and a strong willingness to win, no doubt has the talent to come out on top, but according to the coaching staff, it’s the chemistry that makes them a formidable team.
“Our team chemistry is strong, as this group has been together for three or four years. They know each other’s style of play,” said head coach Dan Sheridan.
CIF also requires a certain level of preparation for each game, and this is something Coach Sheridan has emphasized throughout the postseason. “CIF requires quite a bit more attention to detail, as the teams are better and certainly more prepared,” Sheridan said.
On Feb. 21, the team continued their winning streak in a nail-biting 1(4)-1(3) victory against Cerritos in their semi-final CIF match. As the title of being Division 7 CIF champions is merely one victory away, they will certainly tackle their final round with the same intensity and determination they have embraced all season.
“The team’s goal is 100% to win CIF, but we have to take it one game at a time,” Tonthat commented.
Will Oreck
