Varsity Boys Soccer qualifies to CIF playoffs

With the Bonita Vista High Varsity Boys soccer team’s triumph against Montgomery with a score of 3-0 on Thursday, Feb. 7, the team has officially qualified for California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs. The Barons are one of 12 teams in the San Diego CIF bracket, and have an 8-3 record.

Their match against Montgomery was the deciding factor in whether or not they would qualify for CIF’s.

“They knew that they needed to win this game to even have a chance. They came out with desire on Montgomery’s senior night, against a good team, and [got] a 3-0 win. It’s everything that we’ve worked for,” boys varsity soccer head coach Tracy Powell said.

Powell explains that despite Bonita’s success, they only recently qualified because the CIF bracket is based off a point system. A certain amount of points are rewarded based on the rank and division of the opposing team. Points can also be lost the same way they are rewarded if they lose against a team.

“It’s not about wins or losses, it’s about who you lose to and who you beat. This [game against Montgomery] is so big because they’re Division 1. [The Barons will] get a lot of points for beating them. Earlier in the season we lost to Sweetwater and other teams who are lower [rankings and divisions], so we lost points there,” Powell said.

The Barons are currently Division 2 in the Mesa League.

The Barons have continued their streak making it to CIF, having been to CIF every year since 2014. To get to CIF, they have been practicing hard all season.

For Powell, the key to winning is to properly execute the game plan. He states that this was how they were able to emerge victorious against Montgomery High School, who they lost against in previous games this season.

“Coming in, we had a game plan. We knew how we were going to defend and how we were going to attack them. [The Barons] executed that game plan. Without proper execution, we wouldn’t have survived this game,” Powell said.

Powell mentions that the team received a lot of new players this year, but he believes that they all have potential to play. Some names mentioned were Abram Medina, Isaac Escamilla, and DJ Provencher.

“Our rotation is great. I have good players that start when the game begins and I have people coming off the bench who are starters as well,” Powell said. “Abram Medina has been doing very well for us as well as DJ Provencher and Isaac Escamilla, coming in the game scoring goals.”

Junior Abram Medina is one of the many new boys varsity soccer players who are ready to play in the CIF bracket for the first time.

“This is my first year on varsity and not every school makes CIF playoffs so to be one of them feels good,” Junior Abram Medina said.

Although this is the sixth consecutive year the Barons have made it to CIF, Bonita Vista High boys varsity soccer hasn’t won CIF since 2011. During the 2016-2017 season, the Barons came very close as CIF semi-finalists. Returning to the CIF championship remains their primary goal. For now, they’re proceeding to prepare for the first CIF match versus Santana High School.

According to Medina, the team will need to play smarter and maintain its focus Similarly, Powell states that nothing will change too dramatically in terms of practice and preparation. He’s confident in his team that they’re going to play their game and execute.

“We’re not going to make any changes. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing to get ourselves some wins,” Powell said.