Boys Soccer to make CIF appearance
The boys prepare for post-season after stellar play against Monrovia
The South Pasadena boys soccer team, (8-7-3) overall, recorded a crucial 1-0 shutout of Monrovia on February 9, to secure at least a tie for second place in the Rio Hondo League with one game remaining. The win also enhanced the team’s chances of going to CIF, something they haven’t done for 19 years.
Coming into the Monrovia game, the Tigers were tied record-wise with the Wildcats, who were also 4-3 in league play. Throughout the course of the game, The Tigers proved to be the more dynamic of the two. Neither team scored in the first half, but the Tigers finally pushed through on a late goal by senior Richard Felice, with an assist from sophomore Steven Blackwell. Junior keeper Vitecha Kochaon was instrumental in goal, providing four saves. Prior to the victory, the Tigers played a couple of hard-fought important games against La Cañada and Temple City.
The Tigers lost to La Cañada 1-2, in a similar fashion to their previous meeting with the Spartans in January. After La Cañada scored in the first half, senior co-captain Nick Colt scored off a free kick outside of the box to tie the score. But the Spartans came back with a fluke goal to snag the victory, a disappointing end to the Tigers’ bid for first place in league.
But South Pas bounced back two days later against the Temple City Rams in a 3-1 victory where junior Benjamin Charney scored two first half goals, assisted by Blackwell and junior McKay Hatch. Then, in the second half, Blackwell sealed the game with an incredible free kick from midfield. “Responding to that loss was crucial, because it kept us in the race for second in league,” said Blackwell.
The Tigers play their archrival San Marino Titans today at Roosevelt Field, where they have been especially dominant, boasting an impressive 5-2 record. Going into the match, South Pas has won four of their last five games. The Tigers have already beaten the Titans at their home turf this season, and are very confident they will come out with a similar result at Roosevelt Field this afternoon. “We’ve already beat them, so we just have to take care of business,” said Blackwell.