18 Feb Richmond Rivals Split Paths: De Anza, Kennedy Head to Separate NCS Divisions After Dons Take Overtime Thriller, TCAL Banner

By Denis Perez-Bravo

The varsity boys soccer regular season has come to an end and the North Coast Section championship tournament returns as teams fight for a spot in the round of 16 bracket.

In a rain-soaked crosstown rivalry match Thursday in Richmond, De Anza High School emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Kennedy High School with a golden goal finish in overtime.

“Teamwork, luck, hard work — we put everything into it,” said De Anza senior Amado Canelo. “That’s how we got it.”

The decisive goal came in dramatic fashion, with what Canelo described as “straight luck.” In the first half of overtime, De Anza made a series of kicks and rebounds inside Kennedy’s goal box until they made it in.

Kennedy’s defeat dropped their regular season record down to 11-9. As for De Anza, they’ve won nine of their last 10 contests for a 13-2 regular season record.

“We were just hoping to beat our rivals,” Canelo said. “We wanted it and played the best we could. Even with mistakes here and there, we tried our best.”

De Anza player Khriz Alvarenga assisted on the first goal, his teammate scoring near the first-post.

Alvarenga acknowledged the unique challenge of facing a former coach, Juan Alejandre, who is now Kennedy’s coach.

“It was hard because they already know you,” he said, referring to the tactical game that transpired.

Kennedy striker Ricardo Lopez scored the 1-1 tie on a free-kick in the second half.

“We were hoping to score another goal, to prevent the extra time from happening,” he said. “We knew if extra time was to fall, it wouldn’t be in our favor.”

But with the NCS tournament ahead, the loss hasn’t got Kennedy’s soccer down. “We just keep our heads up,” Lopez said.

With the win, De Anza automatically advanced and will play as the fifth seed out of 16 in the Division III NCS tournament and will face off Tuesday against Analy High School (12) from Sebastopol.

Kennedy High School applied for and was granted the 14th seed in the Division IV NCS tournament. They will face off against Healdsburg High School on Wednesday in Healdsburg,.

NCS Division I

Many Contra Costa County teams will compete in the NCS Division I to be the best of the best of the county and beyond.

After Richmond High School’s game-winning goal in the second half of overtime against Albany High School, they advanced into the NCS Division I tournament as the fifth seed.

They will face off against Alameda High School at home at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Albany High School (12) will go up against Ukiah High School (5) at Ukiah on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Dougherty Valley High School (1) from San Ramon will host a game against Northgate High School (16) from Walnut Creek on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Acalanes High School (8) from Lafayette will play at Marin County’s Redwood High School (9) at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

Concord’s De La Salle (2) will face Windsor High School (15) at home Wednesday at 7 p.m.

San Ramon Valley High School (10) will visit Monte Vista High School (7) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

And finally, Clayton Valley Charter High School (3) will host a Danville city rivalry game against Campolindo High School (14) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

NCS Division II

Three Contra Costa County teams are represented in the Division II tournament.

Pittsburg High School’s 11-2-3 winning record has placed them as the third seed in the bracket.

Pittsburg will face San Francisco’s Lick-Wilmerding High School (14) at Pittsburg High Tuesday at 7 p.m.

California High School (7) will host Liberty High School (10) from Brentwood in San Ramon, Tuesday at 7 p.m.

And El Cerrito High School (15) will challenge Granada High School (2) in Livermore on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

NCS Division III

In the same NCS DIII bracket as De Anza stands Albany’s Saint Mary’s College High School (8) facing off Napa High School (9). And another Contra Costa County squad, College Park High School (16) of Pleasant Hill will face top seed Livermore (1).

Both games will happen Tuesday.

NCS Division IV

Also in the NCS DIV bracket is Miramonte High School (13) from Orinda against San Rafael High School (4) and Concord High School (12) versus Marin Catholic High School (5). Both teams will play Wednesday night.