Reseda Hits Like a Semi in 3-0 Victory

Reseda High showed Tuesday it will again be a strong contender for the City Section boys’ soccer title by defeating El Camino Real, 3-0, in the semifinals of the Hart tournament.

The Regents (10-3), who lost to Canyon in a Hart tournament semifinal last season before going on to win the City Section title, forged the victory with two goals by Jesse Servin and another by Kenny Zepeda.

Reseda lost three games in a two-day period earlier this month, but has rebounded and will play Glendale in the 1 p.m. title game today.

“We were resting on last year’s laurels,” said Terry Davila, Reseda’s co-coach. “It’s like when you lose 10 pounds and celebrate by eating an ice cream sundae.”

Zepeda opened the scoring in the fourth minute when he slid into a cross by Rosendo Gonzalez and scored from five yards.

Servin converted a penalty shot 12 minutes later and scored from 10 yards with nine minutes to play.

El Camino Real (8-3-1), which lost to the Regents in a City Section semifinal last season, was missing forward Jimmy Choto. The Conquistadores were left with no substitutes when backup Yan Falkinstein was ejected for dissent three minutes into the second half.

“Those [Reseda] guys go nonstop the whole game,” said Coach David Hussey of El Camino Real. “If you don’t pressure them in the back and allow them time to distribute, they take the ball and go, like rabbits.”