SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Roller Hockey

Otay Ranch Mustangs: Busting out of the corral

By Phillip Brents

Posted Jan. 25, 2005

Otay Ranch coach Lyn Dyer has to be proud of his fledgling Mustangs after engaging established Mesa League powers Bonita Vista and Eastlake in back-to-back games and coming out with a 1-1 record. Otay Ranch fell 3-1 to Bonita Vista on Jan. 20 and defeated Eastlake by a 4-1 score on Tuesday. Both games were played at Skate San Diego in National City.

At right: Otay Ranch goaltender Victor Holland thwarts an Eastlake rush.

The Barons brought a 12-0-0 record into the Jan. 20 game while the Mustangs were 8-3-1. First-year Otay Ranch held Bonita Vista scoreless until the third period in a gutsy display of defense and positional play.

Kelly Nash, the conference’s phenomenal female scoring machine, finally broke the scoreless tie between the teams 2:29 into the third period, followed by a goal 1:40 later by teammate James Arakaki. Blake Tanner gave the Barons a 3-0 lead with 4:38 to play, assisted by Arakaki.

However, the Mustangs continued to match the Mesa League champions with every rush up and down the floor and spoiled BV netminder Cody Mazzarella’s shutout bid when Adrian Rodriguez scored with 30 seconds to play.

The game matched the South County’s two superstar players: Arakaki and Rodriguez. But Dyer discovered there is so much more to his team than just one player. Everyone contributes.

That can only be a good sign for the upcoming Kiwanis Cup playoffs.

"We’re working hard in practice," Dyer said. "Defense is our No. 1 concern. We can always score goals. It’s showed the last two games. We gave up one goal to Eastlake and only gave up three to Bonita Vista. I’m surprised we held Bonita Vista to three goals." .

At left: Otay Ranch's Matt Nafarrete tangles with Bonita Vista's Willy Anderson.

Victor Holland played the goaltender position in both games for Otay Ranch. He put on a phenomenal performance against Bonita Vista with numerous thrilling acrobatic saves.

"Victor was awesome," Dyer said.

The Mustangs killed the first five penalties before surrendering one on a sixth in the game against Eastlake.

Offensively, the Mustangs’ victory belonged to Rodriguez, who scored all four Otay Ranch goals. Rodriguez notched the lone goal of the first period and added a second goal just as the Mustangs had killed a penalty. Rodriguez got control of the puck in the Eastlake attacking zone and made a break out with two other players, including one just released from the penalty box. Rodriguez got the return pass in the Titans defensive zone and ripped off a shot past Eastlake goaltender Orlando Villela. Matthew Nafarrete assisted on both Mustang goals.

The Otay Ranch lead grew to 3-0 with 6:03 left in the final period as Ruben Gomez fed Rodriguez this time. The Titans finally got on the board with 1:12 left when Chipper Castro finally beat Holland. Eastlake (10-3-0) pulled Villela for an extra attacker with 45 seconds to play but Rodriguez put the game away by scoring an empty net goal from midcourt with 15 seconds left.

Otay Ranch players massed as the final buzzer sounded to celebrate perhaps the biggest victory in school history.

Next up for the Mustangs (9-3-1) are additional high-profile cross-league games against Vista (8-3-1), Scripps Ranch (10-1-1) and Westview (7-4-1) that will determine the team’s playoff seeding. Dyer has to feel more confident about his team’s postseason fortunes as the team continues to build momentum as the regular season comes to a close.

"They’ve got a lot more confidence. They’re controlling the puck a lot more. They’re keeping their heads up and seeing the whole ball of wax," Dyer said.

"They gave Bonita Vista a tough time. They’re no fluke," Eastlake coach Jeff Mechling said.

Chula Vista 8, Castle Park 1

Despite having been outscored 192-14 and sporting a conference worst 0-12-0 record, the Chula Vista Spartans have never given up, according to coach Pam Wiser. That perseverance paid off Tuesday as the Spartans skated to their first win of the season.

Chula Vista is unique in that it features nine female players on its 17 person roster. The Spartans also feature one of the youngest squads in the 18-team conference with 11 sophomores, four juniors and one freshman. Chula Vista has just one rostered senior.

At right: Chula Vista netminder Ana DeAlba.

"These kids are with me six days each week either practicing or playing in games. All the girls are from the field hockey team. Our goals for this season were to learn to skate faster and to skate backward. Some of these kids did not know how to skate backward or how to handle the puck. Of all the years I’ve been involved in hockey, these kids have such high spirit," Wiser said.

Sophomore Javier Vazquez paced the Spartans with seven goals while sophomore Alejandro Cabrera had a goal and assist. Junior Heath McNerney and freshman Corey Durbin were each credited with one assist.

The win went to sophomore goaltender Ana DeAlba, a first-year player who has steadily gained confidence while splitting playing time with veteran Roxanne Seda.

Previously, Chula Vista’s closest game had come in a 9-6 loss to Sweetwater on Jan. 13. In that game, McNerney and Eric Tamayo keyed the Spartans with two goals and one assist apiece.

Castle Park, which got its goal against Chula Vista from Luis Quintanna, saw its record drop to 1-12. The loss was the 11th consecutive for the Trojans, who have undergone a wholesale roster turnover after winning last year’s South Bay League championship.