Soccer Playoffs : Valhalla’s Fast Start Stops Montgomery

A frustrating season came to a disappointing conclusion for the visiting Montgomery boys’ team here Friday in the San Diego Section 3-A soccer tournament.

Top-seeded Valhalla scored two goals in the first 10 minutes and then used an aggressive defense to post a 2-0 victory.

Valhalla (21-0-1) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals against Bonita Vista (14-6-1), a 2-1 double overtime winner over Serra Friday at Hilltop High School.

Three weeks ago, Montgomery (16-7-1) had the remainder of its season canceled after a post-game fight with Bonita Vista players. A subsequent change of heart by Sweetwater Union High School District Supt. Anthony Trujillo reinstated Montgomery for the San Diego Section playoffs, and a 1-0 victory over Mt. Carmel in the opening round Tuesday gave the Aztecs renewed optimism.

That was brought to a screeching halt, though, as Valhalla dominated. The Norsemen scored their first goal just three minutes into the game when Brandon Sargent took a deflection off a Montgomery player and rifled a shot into the goal. Seven minutes later, Scott Hargrove passed to Derek Barry, who scored.

That was all Valhalla needed. Behind the defensive play of midfielders Sargent, Robbie Lott, Jason Miller, Toby Taitano and Jeff Lapinski, Valhalla limited Montgomery to three shots on goal.

“Our midfielders really controlled the ball,” said George Logan, Valhalla’s coach. “I’d say we won probably 85% of the 50-50 balls.”

The Valhalla defense has allowed just seven goals this season, five in Grossmont League play.

Montgomery had a chance to gain momentum with five minutes remaining before halftime when the Aztecs, trailing, 2-0, were awarded a penalty kick. But Rudiger Reinholz’s shot was high and bounced off the top bar of the goal.

“They were more aggressive than we were,” said Manuel Hermosillo, Montgomery’s coach. “They wanted it more, and they deserved to win.”