FOUNTAIN VALLEY SOCCER TOURNAMENT : Fountain Valley Earning Respect Game by Game

Fountain Valley High School, the best-kept secret in Orange County soccer circles, went quietly about its business Saturday.

The Barons are neither ranked nor, in their coach’s opinion, respected. They just win.

Fountain Valley endured everything Mission Viejo had to offer, which was a lot, in the final of the Fountain Valley boys’ soccer tournament. The Barons turned away the Diablos all but once for a 3-1 victory, their fifth consecutive.

“I don’t think anyone pays much attention to us,” Fountain Valley Coach Cameron Beaulac said. “Or at least it seems that way. We don’t mind, we just show up and play soccer.”

The Barons (8-1-4) might get some attention, though, after Saturday’s performance.

They won despite being dominated by Mission Viejo, the fifth-ranked team in the county. The Diablos (9-4-1) spent most of the time in Fountain Valley territory and had 24 shots on goal.

Fountain Valley goalie Ryan Bertoni made 13 saves, some on last-second deflections. The only Diablo goal came on a point-blank shot by Doug Roberson late in the first half.

Bertoni, a junior, joined the team mid-January. He was expected to back up Joe Penaflor, but became a starter after Penaflor injured his knee during the summer.

“Ryan has been a little timid this season,” Beaulac said. “I feel that the goalie should own the goalie box. I’ve been trying tell that to him.”

It appeared that Bertoni listened. He not only patroled his box Saturday, but he also covered the area near the goal.

Several times he came out of the net to make plays. He also blocked close shots by Frank Pace and George Larsen.

When Bertoni did falter, his defense was there to cover for him. Steve Abend twice cleared the ball away from an open net and Wei-Ming Lu deflected a direct kick.

Fountain Valley had few opportunities on offense, but made the most of them.

Midway through the first half, P.J. Polowski intercepted a pass from 30 yards, dribbled 10 yards and beat goalie Phil Darke to the right. It was the first goal Darke has given up since moving into the starting lineup two weeks ago and snapped a six-game shutout streak.

Polowski, who has 12 goals, scored again late in the first half. He took a pass from Amir Rizkalla and lined a shot past Darke.

Jeff Nuber clinched the victory with a goal late in the second half. After Rizkalla centered a pass, Nuber fell and was surrounded by three defenders. He still managed to score.

In the third-place game:

Edison 3, Newport Harbor 2--Scott Hutcheon and Joe McCarthy scored second-half goals to break a 1-1 tie.