The kids are back to school and their parents are celebrating, or are they disappointed? Either way, everyone knows that the fall semester means it is time for football. Our two hometown teams are looking forward to the start of their seasons this weekend. Foothill opens tonight at 7:35 at home against Novato. Amador Valley opens tonight as well as they take their show on the road to Brentwood to take on Liberty High School. Here is a short preview of what to look for this season.
Foothill
Foothill returns over 20 seniors as well as three two-way players who represented the school on various all-league teams. They are Ryan Thiege, a first team defensive back; Rob Andrews, a second team running back, and Austin Day, who was Honorable Mention last season and is also a defensive back. It’s expected that Head Coach Matt Sweeney will continue to preach his philosophy that if the team takes care of the little things, the big things and victories will follow. The defense has greater experience than the offense and is expected to be strong going into the season and into league play that opens Sept. 29 against Monte Vista. With a roster heavy on juniors, the prospects for this season and next seem strong for the Falcons.
Amador Valley
Amador Valley also brings an experienced team into the 2006 season as the Dons return over 20 seniors, too. When Head Coach Rick Sira puts the finishing touches on his offensive line, the offense will become scary, as the unit is led by 2005-second team all-league running back junior Casey Guillory. GuilloryÃs breakaway speed and nose for the goal line make the Dons a threat to score on every play. The Dons home opener is scheduled for Sept. 15 against Kennedy High School. The AVHS league schedule opens on the road on Oct. 6 against Livermore. The Dons regular season closes at home against cross-town rivals Foothill.
BUSC U-14 takes 2nd in Silicon Valley Cup
For the second weekend in a row, BUSC U-14 United team earned a second place finish in tournament play, this time at the Silicon Valley Cup in Morgan Hill. In Game 1, Ballistic beat Mad River United. Ben Ewing scored BallisticÃs first goal off a rebound. The teamÃs second goal was the result of a dribbling clinic from Nick Pereira, who carried the ball around and through defenders before finally planting the ball in the back of the net. The BUSC defense was outstanding, allowing Mad River only three shots on goal for the entire game. James Metz and Jonathan Yankowski controlled the flow of the game by keeping the ball away from Mad River and on the feet of the Ballistic United defenders, and they led the defense.
In Game 2, Ballistic beat Hayward Charruas 1-0 in a tight defensive game. Derek Kanowsky scored the gameÃs only goal on a penalty kick. Steven Glascock and Evan Larsen led the defense, and keeper Adam Bailey stopped all nine shots on goal.
In Game 3, Ballistic assured a place in the Championship Game with a come-from-behind tie, with Garret Foster finally able to break the shutout by scoring BallisticÃs only goal on an assist from Glascock.
In their fourth game, a game that would be a preview of the Championship Game, Ballistic was held to only three shots on goal and lost to an undefeated DeAnza Force 2-0.
In an attempt to turn around the previous loss, Ballistic played much more aggressively in the final game against DeAnza. BUSC was able to get 13 shots on goal and applied consistent pressure throughout the match. However, in the end DeAnza won the Cup with a 1-0 victory in the final.
Rage not blue during Blues Cup 2006
The Pleasanton Rage U-16 Premier team participated in the 2006 Blues Cup premier girls soccer tournament over the Labor Day weekend in San Juan Capistrano. This tournament brought some of the most competitive teams from across the United States to California. The Rage lost 3-0 in the quarterfinals to the Eclipse Select South from Chicago.
The Rage finished first in their pool during the opening round by defeating the Nevada Heat 6-1, Real SoCal Premier 2-1 and Eagles Premier 1-0. The Rage beat the Heat on goals from by Sohie Metz, Ashley Loughmiller, Marisa Fraticelli, Olivia Klei, Chloe Langon, and Asha Smith. The Real SoCal game featured another goal from Loughmiller. In one of the most physically grueling matches of the tournament, the Rage finished pool play by beating the Eagles Premier team 1-0 on a goal scored from Sarah Steele in the last five minutes of the game.
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