Who’s our preseason number one?
De La Salle has constantly ranked among the many high groups in San Francisco since Derrick Brown took over this system in 2011. Within the final three full seasons, the Spartans have received a minimum of 20 video games, reached the part remaining twice and received it as soon as. Final season, the Spartans captured the North Coast Division I crown over Montgomery-Santa Rosa earlier than advancing to the NorCal semi-finals. With a number of proficient gamers again from the Sectional Championship staff, together with Cooper Kennedy, there is not any purpose to consider that De La Salle will not be probably the greatest groups once more, if not the most effective staff within the Bay Space.
Storylines initially of the season
Rene Sayles coached fairly just a few proficient groups in his 23 years, with Richmond usually successful 15 or extra video games in a season as a dominant pressure within the East Bay. Final 12 months’s staff superior to the NorCal playoffs and introduced again most of their core. Richmond has a really intriguing trio within the center. Senior midfielders Kevin Romo in addition to Guillermo Cabral they’re anticipated to be leaders and Siles stated that the sophomore Andres Araujo a technically gifted younger participant who ought to play alongside this duo. In South Bay, coach Conor Salcido The Bellarmine staff can be making an attempt to keep up its excessive customary by successful Central Coast Part titles in 4 of the previous 5 years, together with the NorCal crown in 2019. The staff’s type deteriorated in 2021–22 as they solely received 10 video games and completed within the VKAL. Salcido stated he believes the staff can bounce again this 12 months and return to the highest. His 2022-2023 staff has three DI commits and will problem CCS once more. UC Santa Barbara information Kavi Krishnan proficient ahead, and Santa Clara Keegan Rhodes and UC San Diego Nick Thiele play protection and goalkeeper respectively. As if that expertise wasn’t sufficient, WCAL Linebacker of the Yr Kasdan Blattman nonetheless working from one field to a different. Nonetheless, it will not be simple to win the WCAL, Archbishop Mitty, Saint Francis in addition to Saint Ignatius all promote their very own expertise lists.
Gamers to observe
Kasdan Blattman, Bellarmine, MF, Sr.: Salcido is hopeful that his staff can declare one other CCS title and the WCAL Midfielder of the Yr will probably be requested to play a key position in a powerful Bellarmine staff.
Benny Bogio, Woodside, F, Sr: Bogio had a really productive sophomore and junior years wherein he scored 10 objectives and 10 assists in two seasons. Coach Darrell Ringman stated the staff captain is “inspiring and a tremendous position mannequin”.
Thomas Caminos, Bishop O’Dowd, F, Jr.: The Dragons had a 12-1-2 document within the West Alameda County Convention final season and are poised for one more nice sport. Just a few constant scorers have graduated, however younger ahead Thomas Caminos proved he has a nostril for objectives with 11 objectives in 2021/22.
Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Mount Eden, AM, Sr.: The Monarchs face the daunting process of changing high-scoring Gilberto Rivera, who scored 24 objectives in 17 video games final season. One of many most important candidates for this position is Carlos Gonzalez, who scored seven objectives within the 2021/22 season.
Cooper Kennedy, De La Salle, F, Sr.: Kennedy helped De La Salle to the NCS Division I title final season with a second-half aim towards Montgomery. De La Salle ought to as soon as once more change into one of many elite applications within the Bay Space.
Sean Odle, Wilcox, F, Soph.: Odle entered the college as a freshman and instantly shone, main the staff with eight objectives and three assists. Coach Joshua Foley stated his staff captain “appears to be even higher after his stellar debut highschool season.”
Dylan Olson, Acalanes, GK, Sr: Olson is vying for the beginning goaltending place and coach Paul Curtis stated the older participant’s technical prowess provides him a bonus within the competitors. He stated that Olson is “extraordinarily athletic, has a powerful lead voice, and has glorious decision-making skills.”
Brenden Pineda, Aragon, MF, Sr: The Dons had a landmark 2021-22 season, going 16-5-5. Linebacker Brenden Pineda may very well be within the highlight after the discharge of prolific senators Alexis Villanueva and Kevin Marroquin Mayen. Pineda had two objectives and 7 assists final season.
Keegan Rhodes, Bellarmine, CB, Sr: Bellarmine’s protection could also be probably the greatest within the WCAL, with the back-line pivot being Santa Clara making Keegan Rhodes strikes. He’s certainly one of three DI commits on the Bellarmine staff.
Kevin Romo, Richmond, MF, Sr: The participant named by coach René Siles because the chief helped Richmond go 17-4-1 in 2021-22 and qualify for the NCS playoffs.
The 15 Finest Bay Space Preseason Newsgroups
(Mercury Information & East Bay Instances)
No. 1 DE LA SALLE (20-7-1 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced throughout PK towards Watsonville within the second spherical of the NorCal Division I playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 6 vs. Akalanes, 19:00
No. 2 BELLARMIN (10-4-9 final season)
How It Ended: Misplaced to Granite Bay within the first spherical of the NorCal Division II playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 8 vs Alisal, 18:00
No. 3 BRANHAM (16-1-3 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced to Ridley within the first spherical of the NorCal Division I playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 3 vs Alisal, 13:30.
No. 4 RICHMOND (17-4-1 final season)
How It Ended: Misplaced to Archie Williams throughout PK within the first spherical of the NorCal Division II playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 5, Las Lomas, 18:00.
No. 5 ST. FRANCIS (15-7-1 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced to Montgomery within the first spherical of the NorCal Division II playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 8, Gann, 18:00.
No. 6 ARAGON (16-5-5 final season)
How It Ended: Misplaced to Patterson in a NorCal Division III Championship match.
Subsequent sport: December 2 vs. Menlo College, 4:30 pm.
No. 7 SACRED HEART PREP (16-6-2 final season)
How It Ended: Misplaced to Classic in a NorCal Division IV Championship match.
Subsequent sport: December 2 vs. Leland, 19:00.
No. 8 PIEDMONT (15-4-2 final season)
How It Ended: Misplaced to Sacred Coronary heart Prep within the first spherical of the NorCal Division IV playoffs.
Subsequent sport: November 30 vs. Justin-Siena, 18:00
#9 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (10-6-9 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced to Classic within the second spherical of the NorCal Division IV playoffs.
Subsequent sport: Dec. 5 vs. Latino School Prep, 3:15 pm.
No. 10 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (15-3-2 final season)
How It Ended: Misplaced to De La Salle in NCS Division I Playoff Semi-Finals.
Subsequent sport: December 8, Classic-Napa, 6:00 pm.
No. 11 DUBLIN (12-6-5 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced to Classic within the second spherical of the NCS Division I Playoffs.
Subsequent sport: Dec. 6 vs. Castro Valley, 7:00 pm
No. 12 BURLINGAME (13-1-5 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced to Branham within the second spherical of the CCS Open Division Playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 6 at Mills, midday.
No. 13 ST. IGNATIUS (12-6-3 final season)
How It Ended: Misplaced to North Salinas within the first spherical of the CCS Division I playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 17 on the UHS match, TBD.
No. 14 WILCOX (13-4-3 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced to Aragon at PKs within the second spherical of the CCS Division I playoffs.
Subsequent sport: December 3 vs. North Salinas, 9:50.
No. 15 BERKELEY (13-6-4 final season)
The way it ended: Misplaced to California within the first spherical of the NCS Division I Playoffs.
Subsequent sport: Dec. 3 vs. San Ramon Valley, 3:30 p.m.
