SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports

Mustangs get reality check as firsr-year program moves forward

By Phillip Brents
Posted Jan. 18, 2004

The Otay Ranch High School girls soccer program placed itself in high-profile mode from the first kick of the season by co-hosting the largest high school girls soccer tournament in California. The 24th annual Barons-Mustangs tournament, presented jointly by Bonita Vista and Otay Ranch high schools, helped inaugurate the 2003-04 season Dec. 5-13.

A total of 105 varsity and junior varsity teams participated in the 2003 tournament. Finals in four varsity divisions were held the final day of competition on the new synthetic turf stadium field at Otay Ranch High School.

“The tournament went fine. The only problem was the San Diego County fires caused some schools to back out as hosts because their football teams would be in the playoffs a week longer. This meant site, date, time and officials changes. For the most, part everyone was accepting of the dilemma,” Mustang coach Ron Pietila said.

“The day (games) of the finals at Otay Ranch were well attended and exciting. The two night matches, however, were played in unusually cold conditions and were not well attended. But the play remained very exciting. The positive emails greatly outnumbered the complaints. All teams were very impressed with the ‘turf’ field. I had daily requests to be scheduled on it.”

History will record that the Mustangs won their first-ever varsity match and first-ever tournament game. Otay Ranch defeated San Diego, 5-1, in a non-league game to record its first-ever win of any kind. The Mustangs opened tournament play with a 9-0 victory against Kearny.

With a record of 3-5-2 through 10 games, Pietila’s season goals — while somewhat ambitious for a team comprised of freshmen and sophomores — appear to be met.
The Mustangs earned their first tournament award by placing fourth in the El Dorado Las Vegas tournament over the holiday break.

“Our goals for the season were to be competitive, play .500 and to make the CIF playoffs,” Pietila said. “We are competitive. Our five losses are by scores of 4-2, 1-0, 2-1, 2-1 and 5-3. Making the CIF playoffs is certainly a possibility but I think we need a few more wins.”
The section playoffs start Feb. 24.

Goalscoring leaders include Britney Bennett (13), Veronica Valderrama (eight) and Lauren Siebel (five) while assist leaders include Britni Eseller (eight), Valderrama (seven) and Bennett (five).

Valderrama had three goals and Eseller had three assists in the history-making win against San Diego while Bennett scored three times and both Siebel and Jessica Hernandez had two goals in the tournament win against Kearny.

Through the Mustangs’ opening 10 games, goalkeeper Brittany Alvarez had two shutouts.
Most of the action thus far has been generated by the team’s corps of talented freshmen players, according to Pietila.

“Our strengths and weaknesses are as I predicted,” he said. “The defense and forwards are inexperienced (but) the midfield has played extremely well.”

Leadership ability is one factor that Pietila indicated may be just as important as physical skills.

“The process of training defenders and forwards has been slow. My ego suggested to myself that I could have these athletes at a championship level within a couple of months,” he said. “A strong team of ninth and 10th graders will struggle against an experienced team of above average players that includes juniors and seniors.”

The youthful Mustangs will have nearly an entire month to develop a playoff mind-set. As far as the 25th Barons-Mustangs tournament goes, dates have already been set for the 2004 silver anniversary tournament: Dec. 3-11.

Barons-Mustangs Tournament
Championship matches
Limited Division: Francis Parker 2, Coronado 1 (penalty kicks)
JV Limited Division: Patrick Henry 3, Grossmont 0
Unlimited Division: Scripps Ranch 2, West Hills 1 (4 OT/penalty kicks)
JV Unlimited Division: La Costa Canyon 2, San Pasqual 1
Premier Upper Division: La Costa Canyon 1, Patrick Henry 0 (4 OT/penalty kicks)
JV Premier Division: La Costa Canyon 2, Torrey Pines 1