Young Kennedy Ties Chatsworth

Kennedy High boys’ soccer Coach Fred Singer all but tethered himself to the water cooler he sat on Friday while his team battled Chatsworth to a 1-1 draw in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Chatsworth.

Late in the first half, however, Singer’s muttering and wild arm motions gave way to his leaping off the cooler and charging down the sideline to shout instructions.

Returning to his seat, Singer exhaled loudly.

“Calm down Fred, it’s a young team,” he said.

The tie left Chatsworth (5-1-5, 2-1-5 in conference play) in third place and Kennedy (6-5-5, 2-2-4) in fourth, a point behind the Chancellors.

El Camino Real is atop the standings, followed closely by three-time defending champion Birmingham. Traditionally, the top four teams in the conference have been assured postseason berths.

Singer last season guided the Golden Cougars to the City Section quarterfinals but he has a pack of cubs on his hands these days. Kennedy played much of Friday’s game with one senior, four sophomores and two freshman.

The result was helter-skelter soccer for the first 40 minutes before the teams improved their play in the second half.

Chatsworth took a 1-0 lead two minutes after halftime. John Chavez took a vertical pass from Roque Hernandez and tapped the ball past charging goalkeeper Nick Arroyo from 10 yards.

Kennedy struck for the equalizer in the 63rd minute. A pass by Diego Farfan was partially smothered in the penalty area by a Chancellor defender and trickled to Greg Avila, who scored from five yards.

Avila, Kennedy’s lone senior starter, is considering San Diego State and St. Mary’s for his college choices. He said he takes playing with inexperienced teammates in stride.

“They like to hold onto the ball too much and when you get older the game’s too quick and the guys are too strong to do that,” Avila said. “A lot of times I’m thinking a step ahead of them but we’ll be fine. All that comes with experience.”