San Pedro Gets 2nd Chance, Wins City Boys’ Soccer Title

For the San Pedro High boys’ soccer team, anything is possible.

The Pirates, after being defeated, 4-3, on penalty kicks by Palisades during a City Section semifinal match Tuesday, received a bid to play in the final against top-ranked Belmont after officials discovered that seven Palisades players participated in an American Youth Soccer Organization invitational in Tucson, Ariz., the weekend prior to their game with San Pedro.

California Interscholastic Federation rules say high school athletes may not play in outside games while the high school season is in progress.

“Our loss was due to a shootout, so I don’t feel bad,” San Pedro Coach Hank Nozaki said. “Its like the Lakers tying the Celtics and picking the five best free-throw shooters. “I feel we should be here.”

As if making it to the championship game wasn’t enough, the second-ranked Pirates stunned Belmont, 4-3, in overtime to win their 11th consecutive game and second City title in three years.

San Pedro defeated the Sentinels, 1-0, for the championship in 1987, then lost to Reseda, 4-1, last year.

Midfielder Jack Holt scored the game-winning goal with 11 minutes to play in overtime when his 40-yard shot hit the ground and bounced over the head of Belmont goalkeeper Roberto Campos into the middle of the net.

“That was a shot,” Holt said after the game. “I was trying for a corner (kick) but I guess I lucked out.”

“That was the worst time and worst place for that to happen,” said Belmont Coach Nancy Carr-Swaim.

Belmont halfback Jose Moran had evened the score, 3-3, with a 25-yard shot into the middle of the net after seven minutes had elapsed in the second half.

The Sentinels (15-2-0) got on the scoreboard early with halfback Jose Barahona’s shot from five yards at the two-minute mark. However, San Pedro (14-0-1) chalked up three straight goals and took a 3-1 lead with six minutes remaining in the half. Before intermission, though, moran narrowed the lead to 3-2.