CV shot comes against known foe

Having arrived on the doorstep of the program’s watershed moment — today’s CIF Southern Section Division IV championship match — the members of the Crescenta Valley High boys’ soccer team still haven’t forgotten about their last loss.

That came last season, when the Falcons suffered a 3-1 quarterfinal home defeat against El Rancho in the rain. It hasn’t escaped the Falcons’ minds, providing additional motivation for tonight’s championship match — if there was any needed.

Third-seeded Crescenta Valley (20-0-6) will meet top-seeded and defending champion El Rancho (26-0) in the division’s battle of the unbeatens title match at 5 p.m. today at Warren High in Downey.

“We wanted to get back to playing El Rancho again and we’ve had our sights set on that since the start of the season,” said Crescenta Valley first-year Coach Grant Clark, whose team will participate in the program’s first championship match after posting a 1-1 (5-3) semifinal road victory against Oak Hills on Tuesday. “We are in unique position to face them again and we want to get back at them and get a large measure of revenge.

“They have a great program. ... We know we will be in for a battle. That’s what we want and expect.”

Crescenta Valley won its third Pacific League championship and enters today’s match having won 16 matches in a row. The Falcons have posted playoff wins against Laguna Beach, Diamond Bar, Salesian and Oak Hills.

El Rancho, which captured the Del Rio League title, has registered playoff wins against Duarte, Diamond Ranch, South Torrance and fourth-seeded Cathedral. The host Dons recorded a 3-1 win to top Cathedral in a semifinal contest Tuesday.

El Rancho Coach Dominic Picon said the Falcons proved to be one of their worthiest opponents last season.

“We remember them being one of the toughest teams we faced last year,” said Picon, whose team is ranked fifth nationally by ESPN. “They were a bigger and more physical team and it’s going to be a tough challenge.

“It’s two teams with two different styles. They play the ball up top to [forward Pavle Atanackovic] and we try to keep the ball on the ground.”

The Falcons and Dons have top-caliber forwards in Atanackovic and Francisco Lara, respectively. Atanackovic, the reigning All-Area Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year, has scored a program-record 38 goals. Lara, a senior, has tallied 35 goals for El Rancho.

The teams have no shortage of talented players to support their top scorers. Throughout the season, the Falcons have turned to goalkeeper Nick Ruiz, midfielders Salar Hajimirsadeghi, Erick Trejo and Alex Berger and defenders Matt Schmutzer and Michael Shahnazarians. The Falcons have recorded 13 shutouts this season.

El Rancho has received steady efforts throughout the season from junior midfielders Miguel Vilchis and Christian Roldan, junior defender Roberto Hernandez and junior goalkeeper David Lopez.

“We are going to have to do two things,” Clark said. “We have to defend these guys carefully and that’s paramount.

“We also know having seen film that they are very skilled, pass the ball well and are very quick. If we have opportunities to get counter-attacks, we are going to have to capitalize. We can’t afford to miss the net or hit any crossbars. We’ve gotten the bounces so far [in the playoffs] and we want to continue that.”

Hajimirsadeghi, who scored the fifth and final penalty kick against Oak Hills, said he’s expecting a close match.

“Both teams have done so well to get here,” Hajimirsadeghi said. “It’s going to be how our midfielders are able to step up and get the ball to Pavle.

“We know what our defense is capable of doing. We have to play our best and continue believing in ourselves. We don’t want to lose to them again.”