La Habra still a force even missing a top player
LA HABRA – He was selected the MVP of the Sunny Hills Summer League, a player that no other team could stop in the North Orange County tournament.
This speedy, creative forward knocked in the game-winner for the Highlanders in the championship game against Brea Olinda.
When teamed up with Joe Araiza he helped give the Highlanders quite possibly the most potent 1-2 scoring punch in the county.
Then, Luis Garcia up and left, heading to Mexico to play professional soccer in the Puma’s system.
It was move that caught La Habra coach Steve Aanderud by surprise. But losing Gonzalez shouldn’t hurt the team that much, or at all, Aanderud said.
Some of the kids who were relying on Gonzalez too much are starting to play to their own strengths, and that’s still keeping the Freeway League championship hopes alive on this year’s team.
“All of the kids are a year older. I didn’t lose anyone up top,” Aanderud said. “I talked to them about him leaving. I told them if all you guys pick up just 5 percent, we will be fine. The way they work … I think we should be better than last year”
And that’s saying something, considering the Highlanders made it to the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals where they lost to Capo Valley.
Senior fullback Kenny Cruz is a little more guarded than his coach, saying he’s noticed a difference practicing without Gonzalez because the offense was designed to run mostly through the now missing forward.
“It is a hard loss, but I think we can make up for it,” Cruz said. “But we do have center mids that could take his spot and do just as well, and can touch just like he can.”
Araiza’s game plan for a season without Gonzalez is simple.
“I’ve got to step up,” he said.
Goal scoring, though, is only part of the Highlanders' story. This team, Aanderud said, could be the best defensive group that he has had in quite some time.
“It all comes down to leadership. We have learned from the past years, and now we have to keep our team in line,” Cruz said. “We take a lot of pride in it (defense).”
The Higlanders shutout 18 of their opponents last season, and at one point, they didn’t give up a goal for more than 720 minutes, a span of nine games.
“Before each game we would talk about it, and how solid our defense was playing,” Cruz said. “It helped keep our confidence up.”
And this group has the potential to be better than that putting them on par with the teams that won CIF championships with Jonathan Prieto, Aanderud said.
“We are deep. We have a lot of talent and a lot of skill,” Aanderud said. “It is hard to compare teams, but this defense … oh, it’s going to be the best that we have had.”
In the end, it just might up helping the Highlanders score some goals, too. Having such a stingy bunch playing behind him, Araiza said, lets him take some more chances up top.
“I feel more confidence knowing that my defense is good and solid,” Araiza said, “and that just gives me more opportunities up there.”
