Soccer Playoffs : Two Teams to Get New Chance in Soccer Tournament

Two weeks ago, the boys’ soccer teams from Bonita Vista and Montgomery high schools thought their seasons were finished. Now they’re preparing to open play in the San Diego Section 3-A tournament Tuesday.

“We’re very happy about getting another chance,” said Jerry Hombs, Bonita Vista’s coach, after the seeding meeting Saturday afternoon. “But I’ve noticed in practice the last few days that my team seems timid. The kids are playing as if they’re wondering if they’ve done something wrong.”

After a fight broke out following Bonita Vista’s 1-0 victory over Montgomery on Feb. 4, Sweetwater Union High School District Supt. Anthony Trujillo mandated that all remaining games be forfeited and practices for the two schools be canceled. The ruling was subsequently changed, and the schools resumed practice this week.

The seeding committee had difficulty determining where to place the two teams. Neither has played recently, and both had players suspended for the season. Hombs confirmed that two of his players were suspended but refused to name them.

In the end, Montgomery (15-6-1 including three forfeits) was seeded ninth and Bonita Vista (12-6-1 including four forfeits) 11th.

“Neither has played in two weeks, and they’ve both lost players,” said George Logan, coach of No. 1-seeded Valhalla (20-0-1) and a member of the seeding committee. “Otherwise, they would have been seeded higher. This is almost going to be a championship where there will be an asterisk by it.”

Valhalla, the defending 3-A co-champion, opens Friday with the winner of the Montgomery-Mt. Carmel (12-6) match. Poway, which shared the title with Valhalla last year, failed to qualify.

In the 2-A boys’ tournament, San Diego (15-2-2), Ramona (18-3-1), Hilltop (10-3-1) and La Jolla (10-3-1) are the top four seeds. They have been ranked in that order for most of the season.

Bonita Vista (22-2-0) is seeded No. 1 in the girls’ 3-A tournament and Friday plays host to the winner of a match between Santana (9-9-3) and Poway (14-7-2). Torrey Pines (19-2-1) is No. 2, Grossmont (19-2-3) No. 3 and Mira Mesa (14-3-4) No. 4.

In the girls’ 2-A bracket, No. 1 San Pasqual (19-2-1) plays host Saturday to the winner of the match between Mission Bay (8-5-3) and Coronado (10-4-0). University City (16-2-2), Christian (14-3-1) and Hilltop (14-4-1) are Nos. 2-4.