Harbor silences Soquel for SCCAL Tournament crown | Boys soccer - Santa Cruz Sentinel

APTOS — A post-game celebration Harbor High’s boys soccer team looked unlikely as Soquel was in control early in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Tournament championship on Saturday.

But the No. 1 seed Knights couldn’t cash in their chances and the opportunistic second-seeded Pirates scored on a Carlos Zuniga goal late in the first half, added a tally from Elton Enriquez in the second half, and relied on a fierce defense for a 2-0 upset at Cabrillo College.

After the referee’s final whistle, the entire Harbor team rushed over to their cheering fans in the far stands and the chants of “Harbor” rang out far and wide. Erick Juarez danced with the tournament title banner and players congratulated each other. Harbor heroes included the midfield and the back line including Raul Lopes, Cristian Negrete, Tim Miller, Jack Michaelis, Crosby Soenen, Juarez, Erick Rosales and keeper Santiago Meza.

“We had the better chances early, but when they scored, it gave them a lot of life,” Soquel coach Ashley Edgar said. “It was a good game and both teams played well. Harbor scored on their chances and we did not score on our chances. That’s soccer. I think if we scored first, we would have won and if they scored first, they would win and they did.”

Soquel High's Luis Carrasco dribbles the ball while being pursued by Harbor defenders in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Soquel High's Abel Canizal used his body to keep Harbor's Elton Enriquez from the ball in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Soquel High's Arian Zambrano goes for the ball while being tangled up with Harbor's Raul Lopez in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Soquel High's Kevin Ayala looks to take the ball away from Harbor's Raul Lopez in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Soquel High's Cristian Gonzalez Garcia keeps Harbor's Raul Lopez at arm's length in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Harbor High's boys soccer team celebrates scoring a goal in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)

Thus, one of the most competitive SCCAL seasons ended with a sharing of the spoils. Soquel won the banner for the regular-season title, as the pair had the same number of total points but the Knights had the head-to-head advantage with a 2-1 win and a 0-0 draw. On a sunny, cool Saturday afternoon, Harbor grabbed its share of the winnings with the tournament title.

“We implemented what we worked together on,” Harbor coach Michael Vahradian said. “We know they’re a strong team. I’m really proud of how we stuck together and stayed organized. It was a total team effort. From Day One, it’s all about the team.”

Soquel’s Adam Foa, Luis Carrasco and Abel Canizal threatened throughout the day but could not break through. Harbor defenders Negrete and Miller paired with keeper Meza to hold the Harbor fort.

In the 26th minute, the Pirates counter-attacked and it paid off. Ottis Pendergraft lofted a long pass up to the front, where Zuniga fought off Jack Dawson and poked the ball past onrushing keeper Alessandro Compoginis, the defending SCCAL co-MVP. The ball bounded slowly toward the goal and Soquel defender Quinn Sprague dashed to clear it but his all-out effort was just a bit late as the ball crossed the line.

“I’m really happy,” Zuniga said. “I got there and lifted up the ball. I was happy to see it go in.”

After halftime, energized Harbor looked stronger than ever. In the 53th minute, it hit paydirt again as Alejandro Guzman, Enriquez and Zuniga put on a tic-tac-toe passing clinic, capped off by Enriquez’s shot into the far corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.

“It was touch, touch, touch,” Enriquez said. “I saw it and shot.”

Soquel fought back, but Harbor’s defense stymied the Knights time and again. The Pirates’ 3-5-2 alignment clogged up the midfield and gave Soquel fits.

“Michael does a great job with his kids,” Edgar said. “Both teams can now take something into CCS and represent our league well. There was a lot of parity in the SCCAL this year. The league spoils get split. We fought hard for the league title and they won this title today.”