For the second straight game, it was the creativity and scoring ability of junior Seiji Matsuda which proved to be the difference on the scoreboard for Bellarmine, as the Bells captured a Central Coast Section title under coach Conor Salcido for the third straight season.
A year after defeating Branham 1-0 for the Open Division title, the Bells found themselves playing in a similarly defensive-minded match against previously unbeaten Sacred Heart Prep. This time, Matsuda provided the game-winner in the 18th minute, and Bellarmine kept the defensive pressure on from there to post the 1-0 victory over the Gators for back-to-back Open championships, after winning the Division I crown in 2018.
Three nights earlier, it had been Matsuda's amazing steal and laser shot which had given Bellarmine a two-goal lead over Watsonville, as the Bells hung on to win 2-1 and punch their ticket back to the title match. Sacred Heart Prep, meanwhile, had hardly broken a sweat through the first two rounds of the Open Division, dominating Mountain View and Menlo-Atherton by a combined score of 8-1, an astounding mark for any team playing in the Open Division.
On Friday night, though, it was a Bellarmine defense which took center stage once again, and has now allowed just 17 goals in 23 matches. For Matsuda, the game-winning goal against the Gators completed a playoff trifecta for the 5-foot-7 junior attacker, who notched goals in all three wins over Leland, Watsonville and Sacred Heart Prep.
Bellarmine is now the three seed in the CIF NorCal Division I bracket, hosting NCS Division I runner-up Berkeley on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Sacred Heart Prep is the five seed in the same bracket and must trek down to Fresno to face four-seed and Central Section Division I champion Central in the quarterfinals.
Gunn completes storybook run
The usual suspect found the back of the net for Mitty, as Noah Robertson - who hit the game-winner near the end of regulation in the Monarchs' semifinal victory over Alvarez - notched his fifth goal of the post-season in the first half. But that was not to be the story on Saturday evening at Fremont High, as Gunn got revenge 15 years in the making with a 2-1 Division I title game victory, led by James Hahn and his game-winning brace.
The Titans, a 'B' league team which put together an 'A' league resume this year, never flinched in the face of adversity this post-season, including a shootout win over Salinas in the semifinals. The SCVAL-El Camino champions shook off Robertson's early goal - which came on a header in the eighth minute - to tie the game by half on Hahn's first goal of the night, before he put the game-winner in the net during the 53rd minute of play. From there, Gunn keeper Pierre Napaa came up with a pair of big saves to preserve the win, Gunn's first title since winning the Division I title in 2003 and third overall. The Titans also became the first 'B' league team to win the Division I crown.
Hahn's first goal came just four minutes after Robertson gave Mitty the lead, as Nick Romero's free kick bounced around in front of the net until Hahn drove it into the goal.
Gunn is now the eight seed in the CIF NorCal Division II bracket, opening at Watsonville in Tuesday's quarterfinals. Mitty's season is complete.
Branham rides defense, wins in shootout for Division II title
Though they had not played each other this season, there was plenty of familiarity between Branham and Mt. Pleasant when the former division rivals met to decide the CCS Division II crown on Saturday. That familiarity seemed to benefit the Bruins, who kept Mt. Pleasant and junior standout Ricardo Tovar Herrera off the scoreboard during regulation and overtime before securing a thrilling 6-5 victory in penalty kicks to capture their first CCS crown in boys soccer. Junior Zac Tzou had the primary responsibility on Tovar, who finished the season with 28 goals. Senior Max Sharp providing much-needed cover against the high-powered Cardinals.
A year after reaching the Open Division finals, Branham rode outstanding defense through the Division II bracket, not allowing a goal in three postseason matches. Senior keeper Chris Sagahon turned away six shots on goal by the Cardinals to post his third straight clean sheet in the playoffs, but Mt. Pleasant senior keeper Julian Escobar was also up to the task, as he kept Branham off the board with five saves.
Each team missed once during the five rounds of penalty kicks, but Sagahon's stop during the sudden-death portion of the shootout was the difference for the Bruins, who finished third in the Mt. Hamilton this year but now carry a six-game winning streak into the CIF NorCal regional championships.
"We didn't think there was any chance we would be playing this late," said Branham coach Danny Kadah, whose team started 1-3 and faced a 2-0 early deficit in its fifth game of the season. "Sometimes I think it's true that team chemistry can make the difference."
Branham is now the No. 3 seed in the CIF NorCal Division III bracket, hosting NCS Division III runner-up Albany in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Mt. Pleasant's season is complete.
Harker survives again to capture Division III crown
Close finishes apparently have no negative effect on Harker, which won its second straight match in penalty kicks, this time defeating Saint Francis to win the CCS Division III title, after both teams were scoreless in regulation and each scored once in the second overtime, before the Eagles outscored the Lancers 3-1 in the shootout.
Harker, which was playing in its first-ever section title game, advanced with a penalty kick victory over Sequoia after a 1-0 win over Evergreen Valley in the quarterfinals.
The Eagles are now the four-seed in the CIF NorCal Division III bracket, and will host Sac-Joaquin Division III runner-up Galt in Tuesday's quarterfinal match.
Summit Prep wins first title
Summit Preparatory won the school's first-ever CCS title with a 2-0 victory over Del Mar, improving to 19-0 in the process despite playing on the Dons' home field in the title game.
The Huskies are now the top seed in the CIF NorCal Division IV bracket, but will play at eight-seed Kennedy-Richmond in the quarterfinals.
