Kennedy Finds One More Reason to Dislike Traveling to Belmont

Kennedy High soccer Coach Fred Singer has never liked playing at Belmont because the field there is 10 yards narrower than the one at Kennedy. Now he has another reason to dislike playing there.

Defending City champion Belmont defeated Kennedy, 3-0, on Thursday, marking the second season in a row Belmont (11-1-2) has eliminated Kennedy (9-2-6) in the semifinals while playing on its home field.

Belmont plays for the City championship Jan. 23 against San Pedro, which beat Poly, 3-1, on Thursday. Kennedy and Poly play at 5 p.m. before the championship in an exhibition match.

“On this field, they’re excellent,” Singer said of Belmont. “Give them 10 more yards of width and it could be a different game.”

But the match was played at Belmont, and it turned into the Edgardo Ortega show. Ortega, a junior forward, scored all of Belmont’s goals.

Ortega’s first goal came 13 minutes into the first half when he headed in a pass from Jose Moran. Ten minutes later, Ortega scored after fielding a long pass from Salvador Avalos. Ortega’s last goal came on a 30-yard direct kick in the second half.

“He controlled everything,” Singer said. “He’s got a great field of vision, he’s a good receiver and good ball controller. He has all the attributes of a great soccer player.”

Belmont controlled play for most of the match, keeping the ball in Kennedy’s end.

“I wish we had their skill as far as touch and control,” Singer said. “Everything seemed to stick to their feet.”

Despite the loss, Singer said he was pleased with the season, because eight players from last year’s team graduated.

“Nobody expected us to go this far.”