Sunny Hills players celebrate after winning the program’s 19th Freeway League title. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).
After graduating all four defenders and the goalie from a CIF Division 3 championship team, one might of thought this would be a rebuilding season for Sunny Hills High School’s boys soccer team.
That has not been the case.
With a rebuilt defense that keys an opportunistic offense the Lancers have put together a school record unbeaten season (17-0-3), the latest notch in that run coming Friday when the Lancers edged Buena Park, 1-0.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
The victory was prototypical of this Lancer team with Issac Morales getting a pass to Matthias Brown, who beat Buena Park golie Jr Rodriguez with a rocket to the near post.
It was Matthias’ 20th goal of the season, tying him with Sung Moon (2011) for third place on a storied board of school records. Ahead are Andy Volpp (1996) with 22 and record holder Steve Fitchelberg, who scored 23 while leading Sunny Hills to the 1987 CIF Division 2A in 1987.
Fitchtelberg is a regular attendee at Lancer games, not because of his record but because his son Aidan, is on the current team.
“We’ve come a long way developing our back line,” Coach Mike Schade said. “Daniel Park (senior captain) has moved from midfielder to defender and has been huge. Brayden Weimholt has really stepped up to the challenge and Tyler Ip, also a midfielder who moved to defender combined with sophomore Zach Cardonas and senior Edwin Benavidez have really helped this season.”
The Lancers’ defensive style is aggressive with a significant risk-reward dynamic.
When it works as planned, the offense is explosive with Morales and Matthias leading the charge. The two each have 19 points in league, Morales, a junior, recording nine assists and five goals, and Brown nine goals and one assist.
Friday’s hookup came in the 21st minute for a 1-0 lead and the Lancer defense and A.J. Sandoval did the rest. The shutout was the Lancers’ 10th of the season.
The Lancers’ win over Buena Park secured the school’s, and Schade’s, 19th Freeway League title since 1986. Schade was an assistant in 1986 and 1987 and head coach since.
The title decider led to a short celebration.
“It was a great feeling (the league title), but we only celebrate for 15 minutes,” Schade said. “Then it’s back to work.”
And back to work immediately. The Lancers will wrap up the regular season with home matches Monday against Troy and Wednesday with Sonora. Both matches are at 3 p.m.
And regarding Buena Park, after struggles lately, the team is currently third in the Freeway League at 4-3-1, behind Sunny Hills (8-0) and Fullerton.
The losses were to Sunny Hills, 1-0, Friday, and, in the first round, 3-2 in overtime on a goal you won’t likely see again.
The third loss was to defending league co-champion Fullerton, 3-2.
Buena Park concludes its regular season with matches at Fullerton Monday and La Habra Wednesday. Games begin at 3 p.m.
—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone
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