Newbury Park Steps Up
It was a Marmonte League revival meeting of sorts.
Neither Camarillo nor Newbury Park has been a recent playoff participant in boys’ soccer, but a well-played, scoreless tie Saturday in a Royal tournament quarterfinal sent a message that the drought may be over.
Newbury Park (8-1) advanced to the semifinals by defeating the Scorpions (6-1-1) in a shootout, 4-3, on a sodden field at Royal High.
On Monday, the Panthers play Hawaii Kamehameha and Royal plays Arroyo Grande at Sinaloa Junior High in Simi Valley.
A pool of standing water and two sticky patches of tar-like mud slowed play and led to frequent changes of possession.
“The guys who have that special touch with the ball and the ability to score didn’t have that today,” Camarillo Coach Glen Fischer said.
Missing two starters to injury and two more who were on vacation, Camarillo was outshot, 12-6, and had no significant scoring opportunities. Newbury Park played without midfielder Jacob Chavarria, but won a majority of loose balls and played with more zeal.
Led by Alan Milin, a 5-foot-6, 158-pound forward, and midfielders Pawel Gago and Alan Carr, the Panthers pressured their opponents relentlessly. Behind them, sweeper Jeff Malch spearheaded the defense.
In the shootout, Newbury Park got goals from Casey Schmidt, Carr, Milin and Marcus Vyvyan.
Camarillo’s Ryan Geisler, Kevin Girod and Tom Barany also converted their penalty kicks. But Panther goalkeeper Mario Vargas blocked Scott Coleman’s kick, and the final shot by Tony Dipaolo was wide left, touching off celebratory mud slides by the Panthers.
The result did little to diminish Camarillo’s image as a league favorite and gave a strong hint that the Panthers may contend.
Newbury Park last made the playoffs in 1994, losing in the first round. The Panthers finished sixth in league play last season while Camarillo was fourth.
“The league standings may be a little shaken up this year,” said Fischer, whose team has not made the postseason in his four seasons as coach. “I think it’s going to be an excellent game the next time we play them.”
Gago is looking forward to that Jan. 15 match--as well as to the entire league season.
“No one really knows about us, we’re the dark horse,” Gago said. “It’s better that way, we can surprise teams.”
In first-round matches earlier Saturday, Camarillo defeated Highland, 3-0, and Newbury Park beat Notre Dame, 4-1.