Inspired Thousand Oaks Wins Title
Thousand Oaks High forward Danny Ermolovich walked off the field at halftime and said to his teammates, “I don’t know if you want to be co-champions, but I sure don’t.”
Ermolovich’s words inspired at least one teammate, midfielder Daniel Paz, who was playing in place of the ill Abraham Estrada.
Paz’s second-half goal allowed the Lancers to tie Royal, 1-1, in an emotional Marmonte League game Wednesday night in Simi Valley.
The tie allowed Thousand Oaks (15-4-4, 9-1-1) to claim its second league title in the last three years.
“I told the guys we were playing for pride,” said Ermolovich. “Since last season was so disappointing we really want to win the league and we wanted it alone. Unfortunately, it had to be with a tie.”
Although Thousand Oaks and Royal (17-7-3, 8-2-1) could finish with the same league record, the Lancers would still win the championship outright because they beat Royal in the first meeting.
“I think we deserved to win tonight,” said Coach Kevin Corley of Royal, whose team has outscored opponents, 10-1, in the last four games. “But they deserve to win the league title. Over the course of the season they proved they were the best team.”
For the Lancers, the tie didn’t come easily. Soon after Royal midfielder Evan Kay scored on a shot from the top of the 18-yard box late in the first half, Thousand Oaks forward Chris Jack was ejected in the 39th minute for kicking a player.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Lancer midfielder Jeremy Terrell was ejected after receiving his second yellow card. Less than two minutes later, Thousand Oaks tied the score on Paz’s shot from 25 yards that deflected off a defender into the goal.
Luck was definitely with Thousand Oaks, which was outshot by Royal, 10-5.
The Highlanders hit the post on a header in the first half, David Duncan hit the crossbar in the second half and two other shots that had goalkeeper Julio Paz beaten were kicked out of danger by defenders standing on the goal-line.
“The goal is eight by 24 and we’re glad its not nine by 25,” said Coach Mark Tietjen of Thousand Oaks.