LAKE FOREST – Before the boys soccer season began, Santiago coach Sean Redmon wasn’t sure if the Cavaliers were going to be able to keep up with their past.
Marco Salmeron, an All County midfielder, was no longer in the lineup, having graduated after helping Santiago advance to its second consecutive CIF-SS Division 5 championship match last season. And he was a big reason why the Cavaliers had become such a formidable side.
So Redmond tempered his expectations this winter even though he never stopped believing in his team, which still had plenty of talent to compete in the Southern Section. He just wasn’t if anyone was going to step up and take Salmeron’s place.
But then he watched Felipe Sanchez play this December and realized the Cavaliers could once again be a championship contender.
He has already helped deliver one trophy for Santiago this season, being selected as the MVP of the Mustang Cup after Santiago beat Orange Lutheran, 1-0, in the championship match on Thursday at Lake Forest Sports Park.
“He plays with so much heart. He is a leader and a captain and he is the one who decided to do that (step up for the Cavaliers) and try,” Redmond said. “He was just going after everything all of the time (during the tournament), and always willing to sacrifice. He tried to inspire everyone on this team.”
A piece of the Cavaliers championship past played a key role in Thursday’s triumph at the Mustang Cup. Julio Galicia sent a high, arcing long throw to into the 6-yard box in the 48th minute to Ricky Breseno, who head the ball across the face of the goal and inside the far post to score the game winner.
Galicia’s did the same thing two seasons ago, setting up the goal that delivered Santiago’s first CIF-SS boys soccer championship.
“And you don’t think he is going to be able to throw it like that when you see him,” Redmond said. Galicia is one of the smallest players on the field.
“But then you see him do it,” Redmond said. “I can’t use him all of the time because he’s going to get tired.”
With the way that the Cavaliers’ defense has been playing, Breseno’s goal would be all that they would need. Santiago shut out four of its five Mustang Cup opponents, giving up just one goal in a 1-1 draw with San Juan Hills.
“The defense has just been solid, and I feel that defense is what wins championships,” Redmond said. “I feel like we are starting to jel. I feel like we are doing well.”
The Cavaliers put pressure on the Lancers from the opening whistle with Jessy Sotelo making dangerous runs into the box.
In the 10th minute, he delivered a cross to Jonathan Ramirez, who head the balll just over the bar. And then 15 minutes later, Sotelo sprinted into the right corner, passed the ball to the top of the box to Breseno, who found Galicia standing alone at the near post. But Derrek Chan stopped Galicia’s shot, making a diving one-handed save for the Lancers.
Chan turned away four Santiago shots on Thursday, including a 10-yard line drive from Sotelo in the 78th minute, and joined his teammates Freddy Hickman and Eugene Van Der Watt on the all-tournament team. Breseno, Sotelo, Juan Vargas and Jesus Vargas earned all-tournament team selections for the Cavaliers.
“Winning this tournament is huge of course. The quality of teams in the tournament is fantastic,” Redmond said. “We played some really good teams to get here, and it feels good. It feels good to be proud, but you have to stay humble.”
