La Cañada Flintridge — Down seven players due to injuries, illness or club commitments, the Crescenta Valley High boys’ soccer team could have had a disastrous opening to the 2016-17 season at La Cañada on Wednesday afternoon.
Instead, the short-handed Falcons put on a clinic by taking advantage of miscues to defeat the Spartans, 3-0, in the season opener for both teams.
“Being able to capitalize on another team’s mistakes is the difference between really good teams and great teams, especially in tight games,” Crescenta Valley Coach Grant Clark said. “Sometimes the only chances you get are on mistakes from other teams and you have to find a way to score.”
Despite several absences, Clark still had senior Henry Barkhordarian in his corner.
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Crescenta Valley’s goalie Luis Flores punches a corner kick with La Canada’s Dylan Pastor and La Canada’s Rustin Badie hoping to make contact in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Jonathan Han and La Canada’s Brandon Grandalski battle for a header in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s goalie Luis Flores slides in to make the save as La Canada’s Luke Bonham pulls up from the attack and has to jump over the goalie in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Sebouh Oshagan and La Canada’s Matthew Brown battle for a header in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Jonathan Han slides in for a tackle as La Canada’s William Chant gets control of the ball in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s William Chant and Crescenta Valley’s David Villasenor battle for the header in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Jake Tolkin and Crescenta Valley’s Tomik Baghramian battle for a header in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s head coach Bruno Costa tries to get his defense to move into a different position during the game against Crescenta Valley in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Aldo Balarezo makes a last attempt slide tackle for the ball against Crescenta Valley’s David Villasenor in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Henry Barkhordarian, moments before scoring, moves with the ball in front of the La Cañada goal amid several defenders in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Jonathan Han jumps with Henry Barkhordarian after scoring in a non league boys soccer game against La Cañada at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Jonathan Han chips the ball over La Canada’s goalie Ryan Crispi to score in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Dallas Kaauwai, after battling to get control of the ball in traffic, is toe poked from behind by La Canada’s Armand Manoukian in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Luke Bonham jumps up to keep the ball in play with Crescenta Valley’s Glibertt Saenz pursuing him on defense in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Jonathan Han heads the ball forward against La Cañada in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Alone in front of the goal, Crescenta Valley’s Dallas Kaauwai just misses a cross and is forced to look back at the ball as it rolls away in the game against La Cañada in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Henry Barkhordarian attempts to gather in the ball with pressure from La Cañada’s Lornezo Lizardi in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Referees, with Athletic Director Kristina Kalb, look at how the goal is about 3 inches off of the turf, caused by non-retracting wheels making the goal unsafe for play, just before the game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. The game was about to be cancelled when a part of the goal was found that dropped down in contact with the turf making the goal safe and legal. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Henry Barkhordarian shoots with La Canada’s Alex Juse moving to defend in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Dallas Kaauwai high kicks the ball backward against La Cañada in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s goalie Ryan Crispi saves the ball near the 18 meter line against Crescenta Valley’s Jonathan Han in a non league boys soccer game at La Cañada High School on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Crescenta Valley won the game 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
The reigning Pacific League and All-Area first-team striker scored two goals and kept the Spartans defense on its heels all game.
Barkhordarian broke up a scoreless stalemate in the 37th minute when a steal led to an attack down the home sideline.
Falcons senior Ryan Sanfilippo lobbed a pass to Barkhordarian that appeared to be stolen by a Spartans defender. However, that defender had the ball bounce off the side of his leg to Barkhordarian, who shielded the Spartan with his back, spun and rocketed a 12-yard goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
“I noticed that there was a spin on the ball and thought he might lose control,” Barkhordarian said. “As soon as I saw the ball, I turned my back to keep my defender off me and took my shot.”
The Barkhordarian-Sanfilippo connection struck once more in the 62nd minute when Sanfilippo penetrated the 18 from the middle of the penalty area and crossed to Barkhordarian, who converted a 10-yard goal to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead.
Crescenta Valley’s other goal came in the 50th minute when junior Jonathan Han flipped a through ball sent to him right over the head of a hard-charging La Cañada defender back to himself. The Falcons striker then calmly laced in a 10-yard goal in the 50th minute to put Crescenta Valley ahead, 2-0.
“I’m impressed with how we played,” Clark said. “Just the difference between now and the scrimmage we had earlier are big.”
Crescenta Valley’s effort spoiled the debut of new coach La Cañada Coach Bruno Costa, who was not too concerned after the opening defeat.
“The big difference I would say is that Crescenta Valley capitalized on mistakes,” Costa said. “We made two mistakes and they found goals on both of them, the first two goals of the game. From there, we played with anxiety and the pressure got to the team.”
La Cañada had a pair of solid looks with perhaps the best chance coming in the 56th minute when Brandon Grandalski shot a 25-yard free kick right off the crossbar.
About 10 minutes earlier, Spartans forward Kai Gill also nearly scored when he caught Crescenta Valley’s goalie nonchalantly going after a loose ball. Gill slammed a shot off the keeper’s body out of play from five yards.
The Falcons goalkeeping duo of Luis Flores and Makan Afzali combined for three saves.
