A 2-0 win at Monte Vista High School last Thursday finished what coach Mike Tomlin described as a “remarkable accomplishment” for the Milpitas High School girls varsity soccer team.
By ending the regular season with a record of 17-0-3 overall, 11-0-1 in league, the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division champions set school records for most wins, fewest losses and best record ever.
“This was a team where everyone seemed to understand the importance of doing their part in working toward victory and success,” Tomlin said. “There are many stars on this team, each one seeming to know when to shine.”
Based on the Lady Trojans’ record, Tomlin expects the team will be seeded third, possibly second in the playoffs, which would give Milpitas a first-round bye.
“It is likely that since we will be hosting the quarterfinals on Feb. 28, we will be able to play at home.”
Milpitas completed its superb undefeated regular season with four straight wins, the final three by shutout. Since a scoreless tie against Piedmont Hills on Dec. 9, the Lady Trojans posted a 15-0-1 record. They won 11 straight contests from Dec. 12 at James Lick High School to Jan. 29, a 1-1 tie at Fremont High School.
In the season finale at Monte Vista, Milpitas spoiled the Matadors’ Seniors Night with a plan to keep constant pressure on the host team at every position.
“We were able to do this for all 80 minutes,” Tomlin said.
On an assist by fellow senior Sarina Bolden, Jennifer Fender scored the first goal for Milpitas at 38 minutes into the first half.
“Bolden took possession of the ball from our defense and dribbled all the way up the field, where she made a brilliant cross to Fender who provided an equally brilliant finish,” Tomlin said.
Senior Alyssa Escobar scored the Lady Trojans’ second goal on a second half penalty kick.
For her defensive performance against the Matadors, junior Kaitlin Bezema, who entered the game off the bench at fullback, was named player of the game.
Junior Alyssa King and freshman Aira Roca, who came into the game as a substitute at midfield, also had notable performances, Tomlin said.
Freshman goalkeeper Eme Espinoza recorded her 12th shutout of the season
Milpitas also clinched a junior varsity league title at Monte Vista Thursday, the team’s second in school history.
Both times the teams have been coached by Katee Moffett, a 2007 Milpitas High graduate and three-year former player for Tomlin.
On Tuesday, Seniors Night for Milpitas, Tomlin gave controls of the team to all 10 members of the class of 2015 in a 2-0 win against Lynbrook High School.
“Eight of the seniors started and played a majority of the game,” Tomlin said.
Bolden selected not to start due to a lingering back injury suffered against Cupertino High School on Feb. 3, but entered the game in the second half. Senior Jessica Jhutty could not play due to a recent knee operation, but provided encouragement from the sideline, according to Tomlin.
Senior Mithalee Thakkar’s soft-touch chip shot goal, on an assist by senior Kristen Buchanan who had brought the ball up from the half line, over the outstretched arms of the Lynbrook goalie, put Milpitas up 1-0 seven minutes into the game.
“Constant attacking led to no other goals in the half, however, denied Lynbrook the ball almost entirely,” Tomlin said.
In the second half, Milpitas continued to dominate ball possession and control.
With 33 minutes in the second half, senior Araceli Crisanto, on an assist from sophomore Sarelis Villalobos, scored on a shot from midfield.
Played in honor of the 10 seniors, several of whom made the squad their freshman year, all seniors were named player of the game.
Milpitas hosts league wrestling finals
Several Milpitas High varsity wrestlers placed at the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League wrestling tournament held in Milpitas last Friday and Saturday.
Arthur Handy led the team by placing third in the 106-pound weight class. Sean Barnes, 160-pound weight class; Miguel Buenrostro, 152-pound weight class; and Jaryle Zamora, 120-pound weight class; each placed seventh. Thomas Dao, 170-pound weight class; and Kevin Nguyen, 132-pound weight class; each placed eighth.
At the junior varsity level, Paolo Casapao won the 106-pound weight class.
Boys soccer wins last two games
With wins last week at Lynbrook High School and against Saratoga High School in their season finale, the Milpitas High boys varsity soccer team finished it’s season 6-12-1 overall, 5-7 in league, with a winning streak after losing three in a row.
Last Thursday against Saratoga High, Senior Day for Milpitas, seniors — Ricardo Aguilar, Christian Ancheta, Jesus Chagolla, Sergio Franco, Miguel Gonzalez, Shabaum Kumar, Paul Mundenmaney and Neel Srehan — all started their last game for the Trojans.
At about the 20-minute mark in the first half, striker Franco got across from side mid-fielder Aguilar and punched the ball past the Falcons’ goalie for a 1-0 lead. A Saratoga goal equalized the game before halftime.
In the second half, Srehan brought the ball up and passed to Christian Ancheta, who shot while he was being knocked down, to score the game-winning goal for Milpitas.
Besides the eight seniors who played, goalies junior Paulo Baquilod and junior Ajay Chudasama, sophomore Axel Ancheta, junior Vuong Bach, junior Jacob Hernandez, junior John Macaulay, freshman Israel Medina, junior Mathias Meza and junior Jesse Rodriquez played large parts in the win, said coach Bill Leffler said.
In a 2-1 win at Lynbrook last Tuesday, Milpitas took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Meza in the first half.
Aguilar connected on a shot from about 20 yards out to the back goal panel for a 2-0 lead in the second half.
“Lynbrook came back with a corner kick that was caught by our goalie but when he brought the ball down to his chest their forward kneed the ball out of his hands for an open ball that was knocked around, but not cleared, until it came to the side and was touched in the goal,” Leffler said. “We approached the main official about what had happened and he went to the side official to check with him. After their consultation they said that no one had seen the infraction so they would not rule against knocking the ball out of the control of the goalie.”
Looking back at the game, Leffler said the defense of Axel Ancheta, Christian Ancheta, junior Ryan Bunyard, Meza, Mundenmaney, Rodriguez and Srehan played “very well.”
“Much better play” by mid-fielders, Aguilar, Chagolla, Franco, Miguel Gonzalez, Hernandez, Kumar, Macaulay and freshman Ishan Pathirana also contributed to the win.
Two-game win streak ends for boys basketball
Coming off a multiple overtime victory at Los Gatos High School, the Milpitas High boys varsity basketball team lost 63-54 at Fremont High School last Friday, breaking a two-game winning streak and dropping its record to 11-12 overall, 5-6 in league, entering this week’s season finale, a De Anza Division game Tuesday against Wilcox High School.
In a four overtime thriller, the Trojans won 76-73 last Tuesday at Los Gatos High School. Junior guard Cristian Mejia led Milpitas with 31 points.
Girls basketball wins on last-second shot
A buzzer beater game-winning shot by senior guard Kym Ngo at Fremont High School last Friday snapped a four-game losing streak for the Milpitas High girls varsity basketball team, boosting the Lady Trojans’ record to 6-16 overall, 3-8 in league, entering this week’s season finale, an El Camino Division game Wednesday against Monte Vista High School.
In the 46-45 win, Ngo led Milpitas with 17 points. The Lady Trojans, who trailed 24-18 at the half, entered the fourth quarter down 33-26 but scored 20 points to clip the Firebirds.
Senior guard Janelle Bumagat, the only player to post double digit points, led Milpitas with 12 points, in a 43-34 loss at home to Lynbrook High School last Wednesday.
