Highlanders Put Up Fight in 1-0 Loss to Alta Loma

Continuing down its murderer’s row of a schedule, the Royal High boys’ soccer team lost to Alta Loma, 1-0, Tuesday night in the final of the Royal tournament at Royal High.

The defeat’s aftermath found the Highlanders (9-2) and Coach Kevin Corley in high spirits however, for Royal proved it will once again be a force in the Southern Section Division I playoffs in February.

“I’m not upset at all; it was a heck of a game,” Corley said. “Even at 9-1, I was concerned that we’d be able to compete for 80 minutes with a team like Alta Loma, and we did.”

Alta Loma (9-1) scored in the 12th minute when James Jacob ran onto a vertical pass in the penalty area and used one quick touch to slide the ball past Royal goalkeeper Josh Montgomery.

After winning last season’s Division I title, its second such crown in the past three years, Royal was thought to be rebuilding with four returning starters. But the Highlanders have lost to section powers Anaheim Servite and Alta Loma and beaten quality teams such as Crespi, Camarillo and Simi Valley.

“We showed tonight we can hang in there with the best of them,” Royal captain and sweeper Sean Gesell said. “Playing hard teams like this prepares us for the playoffs and do-or-die time when it’s one loss and you’re out.”

Tuesday’s contest featured virtually no whistles for fouls, an absence of trash talk and excellent play. Each team was solid defensively and creative offensively, rare for early season play.

“Both teams are well-prepared and disciplined,” said Alta Loma Coach Ryan McConnell, whose team fell in last season’s Division I quarterfinals. “We work on a lot of team defense, on marking people up in the box and on set plays and, obviously, they do too.”

After picking his team to finish third in the Marmonte League in the preseason and downplaying Royal’s accomplishments as the season began, Corley admitted Tuesday that his team could again be a section title contender.

“After this game, yes, we’ve got as good a shot as anybody,” Corley said.

Gesell said that realization is starting to sink in for the players as well.

“People are starting to see we’re not just a team that won a championship last year and then lost everybody,” Gesell said. “Royal has a legacy and we always bring it out of somewhere and play as hard as we can.”

Alta Loma outshot Royal, 11-6. Brave goalkeeper Darren Oerly made two saves while Montgomery stopped one shot in the first half and his second-half replacement, Phil Russell, made two saves.