Undefeated Uni boys soccer team has eye on PCL title and formidable run in CIF playoffs

University High boys soccer players meet with Coach Martin Wallwork after Friday’s match. (Photo courtesy University soccer)

University High’s boys soccer team is off to a fast start in its quest to capture the Pacific Coast League title.

The Trojans have a 5-0-3 record in league play and 6-0-4 mark overall under Coach Martin Wallwork who celebrated his 100th victory with the program in the Trojans victory last Friday. He’s been University’s coach for eight years and led the Trojans to the CIF Division 3 title in 2018, the first crown for the school in boys soccer.

University remained undefeated Friday with a 4-0 victory over Portola. Gabe Hertel scored two goals and Armin Tehrani and Eric Sun added one goal each. Hertel had two assists and Tehrani and Rohit Chawla one each.

The season for University and all other teams was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Soccer season normally starts in November but was delayed until March with CIF playoffs scheduled to start in May.

“We are off to a decent enough start all things considered,” Wallwork said. “With only one week of a preseason and full contact practice it was always going to be playing catch up. But it’s the same for everyone in our league. It’s a very close league this year.”

Wallwork likes his team’s chances.

“We have a very inexperienced varsity squad with only five starters returning from last year and another handful who were with varsity last year but didn’t really play significant minutes,” he said. “So this really was a year where we needed a lot of preparation time on the pitch via summer league/camps and preseason games , however obviously that couldn’t be the case and so we are yet to really find our identity properly.

“What we do have as is always the case here is massive amounts of heart and character that has been key to keeping us moving in the right direction whie we work to find ourselves and find that understanding of each other and the principles/philosophies that this program is built on.”

Wallwork said a number of players have stood out.

“We have had tremendous leadership from senior returning captain Nic Conta ( who is also a standout tennis player for the highly successful program here and splitting time between both),” Wallwork said. “He has performed tremendously.

“Returning junior Gabe Hertel is a defenders nightmare with his pace and power up front. He’s following up a great varsity season last year with seven goals and two assists. Returning forward Luca Flick Kaiser is continuing his form as  a superb junior season into this year. He is key to our style and does all the dirty work up top and is fearless. A lot of what he does doesn’t show up on the stat sheet but he’s the reason our other two forwards have the numbers they do. He still however has five goals and seven assists.”

Sophomore Armin Tehrani, who has nine goals and six assists, has been another top player.

“He has been terrific to watch,” Wallwork said. “He has an eye for a killer pass and in front of goal is deadly. You wouldn’t think he’s only a sophomore the way he approaches the game. He’s strong, physical and has a high soccer IQ. He’s got plenty left in him and we’ll need plenty of it the second half of the season.”

Wallwork said he has high hopes for the season.

“Hopefully the second half of league we can find our consistency and quality and go into playoffs with confidence,” he said. “The most important thing right now for us tho is that the boys are back out there playing and finding some joy and normalcy as it has been so tough on them this last year. I’m so incredibly proud of everyone one of them how they have handled things and not looked for any excuses.”

—-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com