SOUTHERN SECTION SOCCER PLAYOFFS : This Time, Unseeded Kennedy Tries to Have Fun During Playoffs

Kennedy High School is unranked and unseeded in the Southern Section 2-A boys soccer playoffs, which is just fine with Kennedy Coach Vladimir Nieto.

Kennedy plays host to fourth-seeded Arroyo Grande as second-round playoff action begins today at 3 p.m., and Kennedy’s mood definitely will be festive, Nieto said.

“Last year we went in as the second seed in 2-A, and (Garden Grove) league champions and lost our first game to Brea, 1-0,” Nieto said. “The kids took it too seriously, and they forgot that it was supposed to be a game, a fun situation.

“I told the kids (this season) that it was much better not to have the pressure of being top-seeded and to come from behind, to be the underdog. And it has certainly made a difference. It has been a joyful season.”

Nieto wants his team to have fun, but Kennedy is not to be taken lightly.

The Fighting Irish beat Trabuco Hills, 3-1, in double overtime in the first round. Earlier this month Kennedy handed third-seeded Pacifica (14-1-2) a 1-0 loss.

That victory gave his players the confidence that they could play with anybody, Nieto said.

Center midfielder Diego Abbes (17 goals) and sophomore goalie Jerry Vargas (eight shutouts) lead Kennedy.

In other 2-A games, top-seeded Brea (14-3-1), which had a first-round bye, plays Ganesha (13-7-3) at Brea Junior High School. Los Alamitos (9-10-2) has a home match against second-seeded Burroughs.

Pacifica (13-1-2) is at Montebello (16-4-2), Esperanza (13-3-2) travels to Paraclete (17-3-1) in Lancaster and Woodbridge (8-4-6) plays host to Garey (17-3-2).

In the Small Schools division top-seeded Whittier Christian (15-3-3), the only county team remaining, plays host to Webb (4-0-3).