San Fernando Falls in Soccer, Forfeits 10 Wins

The San Fernando High boys’ soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to host Granada Hills on Wednesday, but earlier in the day the Tigers suffered a more damaging blow, forfeiting their 10 victories.

School officials told Hal Harkness, commissioner of the City Section, that goalkeeper Tony Olivares had entered his ninth semester of high school in the fall, a violation of City rules.

“The school has voluntarily forfeited the games,” Harkness said.

However, San Fernando Coach Arturo Vasquez said that Olivares twice had dropped out of school and that those semesters should not apply to the total overall semesters attended.

“He dropped out of school and he came back,” said Vasquez, who added that he will appeal the forfeitures. “Age-wise he was eligible. It was simply the fact that he dropped out and came back. (Soccer) kept the guy in school. He worked very hard in his classes.”

Olivares, who turned 19 last week, maintained a 2.0 grade-point average with no failing grades after the 10-week progress report--meeting City academic requirements.

However, Harkness and Paul Swanson, an assistant principal at San Fernando, have a different interpretation of Olivares’ status during the semesters in which he dropped out.

“Mr. Swanson told me that (Olivares) was enrolled even though he didn’t attend classes,” Harkness said.

Sophomore Juan Gomez started in place of Olivares against Granada Hills (9-4 overall, 6-0 in league play) and recorded nine saves, but his final save set up the winning score. Gomez blocked a 10-foot shot from Heros Daniels but the ball deflected to Scott La Rue--standing in front of the goal--who chipped it in for an easy score with five minutes remaining.

Olivares was the spark plug for a San Fernando team that had claimed the Hart tournament title. The Tigers had a 10-1-2 record, 4-1 in league play before Wednesday.