To win division, Eagles need to capitalize on more chances
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Photos by Joe Hu/Town Crier Ben Vasser is one of the leaders of a Los Altos High defense that allowed just three goals over its initial four games of the season. |
The Los Altos High boys soccer team’s goals for this season include winning the SCVAL El Camino Division and making the Central Coast Section playoffs.
The Eagles will need to score goals to reach their goals, though, and that’s been a problem.
“It’s the same (concern) as last year: scoring goals,” said coach Vava Marques, whose team placed third in the division last season and missed the playoffs by a point. “We’re creating chances, but we’re not putting the ball away.”
Four games into the season, Los Altos has mustered just two goals. Both scores came in last week’s 2-0 home win over Menlo.
“Hopefully, that will break the ice,” Marques said of the Dec. 6 victory, which boosted the Eagles’ record to 1-2-1.
Fullback/midfielder Ben Vasser hopes it also gets his team on a roll.
“I hope we can build off that game,” the senior said. “It was the first time we played good defense and finished the chances in the same game.”
The Eagles only did the former in their other games. They played Monta Vista to a scoreless tie, and lost 1-0 to Aptos and 2-0 to Gunn.
Imagine what a goal or two in each of these games could have done for Los Altos, something Marques has surely pondered. The team’s eighth-year coach said the Eagles are working hard in practice to improve their scoring, and he’s encouraged by their progress.
“All the midfielders and forwards can get a lot of shots on goal,” he said. “They have potential to be scorers.”
Forward Thibaud Duprat and center midfielder Nestor Guerrero, both juniors, notched goals against Menlo. Duprat, a first-year varsity player, is the lone man up top in Los Altos’ scheme.
Darren Sweetman plays alongside Guerrero at center mid, where they are flanked by Danny Koehler and Nevy Martinez. Sweetman was named team MVP last season and earned first team all-league honors; Martinez was voted Most Inspirational Player by his teammates. Koehler, a junior, is another returning starter.
Junior Eric Johnson, along with freshmen Miguel Sandoval, James Sweetman (Darren’s brother) and sophomore Sam Vesuma also log time in the midfield. Darren Sweetman and Sandoval sometimes spell Duprat at forward, as does Javier Villanueva.
The defense, one of the team’s strengths, is anchored by three seniors: fullbacks Vasser and Charlie Sines, and sweeper Kyle Macomber. Senior Juan Gama and Martinez bolster this unit. Vasser earned first team all-league honors last year. Sines, another returning starter, recently joined the team after kicking for the football team. Macomber played midfield last year, but a change in strategy prompted his move to defense.
“We’re changing the way we play, with three marking backs instead of four,” Marques said.
Senior Kieran McKeekin starts in goal. Playing his first season of varsity, McKeekin has surrendered just three goals.
Los Altos has only six returnees - four of them starters - among its 22 players. Although the Eagles graduated eight players from last year’s 11-7-2 team, Marques has higher hopes for his current team.
“I believe we can be better than last year,” he said. “I’m excited about the players on this team. They work really hard, they’re very disciplined, very dedicated and they give 150 percent effort in games.”
Vasser has also noticed a positive change in this year’s team.
“We’re more disciplined,” he said. “Everyone’s going to practice and wants to get better.
It’s too soon to tell if that will be enough to claim the division. With reigning division champ Cupertino moving up to the De Anza Division this year, Vasser expects Los Gatos and Saratoga to be the Eagles’ biggest challengers for the El Camino crown.
Marques likes Los Altos’ chances.
“We should have a shot at the title,” he said. “I’m excited about this team.”
Vasser is excited about the chance to play beyond the regular season.
“There are no players on the roster who have been to CCS, so there’s a lot of desire to get there,” he said. Especially after coming so close last year.”
Los Altos opened division play Tuesday at Lynbrook and hosts Fremont at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
MV rallies for win
Mountain View (3-2-1) scored two second-half goals to beat Oak Grove 2-1 Dec. 7 in the Homestead Christmas Cup.
