Boys Soccer (2022-2023)
Avila’s Goal Sends Panthers to the 2nd Round of NCS
Wednesday, February 15th—On a cold evening at Albany Middle School, the Varsity Boys Soccer team took on the Branson High Bulls in the First Round of the NCS Playoffs, defeating them by the score of 1-0 to advance to the Second Round. Both teams displayed great defense throughout the game as both teams had a tough time trying to generate any offense.
However, in the latter stages of the 1st half, the Panthers would find the back of the net on a goal by Junior, Kevin Avila, to give the Panthers not only the lead, but the ultimately victory as well. Senior goalkeeper, Colin Dalvand, recorded his 5th shutout in the last 6 games.
The Panthers will continue their hot streak as they will host the Healdsburg High Greyhounds in the Second Round of the NCS Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, February 18th, at 2pm at Brady Park.
Abiy’s Late Goal Propels Panthers to TCAL Tournament Title
February 11, 2023—In a game that featured the two best teams in TCAL in the latter stages of the year, the Panthers traveled to Richmond on Saturday evening to take on the Richmond High Oilers—a team that the Panthers lost to on two separate occasions by a combined score of 5-0 in those tw
o contests. However, regardless of the time of year or the level of any sport, it is extremely difficult to beat a team three times in one year…that proved to be the case for the TCAL Championship Game as the Panthers would finally climb the mountain and defeat the Richmond Oilers in a thriller by the score of 1-0.
In the first half of the game, the Oilers got some great looks to try and take the early lead, but could not cash in thanks to a few key saves by Senior Goalkeeper, Colin Dalvand. The Panthers would also get a few good looks of their own but could not find the back of the net either. Even though the teams went into halftime with a 0-0 tie, the game was playing out the way Panthers Head Coach, Ankur Chablani, wanted it to.
The second half of the contest proved to be the more exciting of the two halves. Unlike the first half, the Panthers looked like the team that was controlling the ball more and spending more time in the Oilers zone. However, on an Oilers corner kick attempt, the Panthers’ Dalvand would suffer a back injury on the play, removing him for the remainder of the game. However, the Panthers goalkeeping would not lose a beat as Panthers Junior and Backup Goalkeeper, Declan Zuber, would make the save of not only the game, but of the entire season as he robbed the Oilers on a penalty kick late in the second half, keeping the score at 0-0.
However, moments later, the scoreless tie would be broken as Junior, Noah Abiy, would find the top left corner of the goal on a terrific right footer with 8 minutes left the game to give the Panthers the only goal that they would need. Following Abiy’s goal, the Panthers defense would hold firm in stoppage time to keep the Oilers from tying the game, giving the Panthers the TCAL Tournament Championship and, arguably, one of the best victories in the program’s history.
The Panthers will enjoy this victory for the weekend, but will quickly shift their focus to the NCS playoffs, which start next week, where they will look to capture their first section title in four years.
Fagen’s 2-Goal Game Propels Panthers to TCAL Finals
February 9, 2023—In the TCAL semifinal round at Brady Park, the Panthers took on their crosstown rival, the Albany High Cougars, for the fourth time this season. As anticipated in a matchup of longtime league rivals meeting for the fourth time in one year, it was a closely contested matchup between the Panthers and the Cougars.
However, the Panthers would get quite the effort from Senior, Sam Fagen, as he would provide the only offense that the Panthers would need as he would score the game’s only two goals, giving the Panthers a 2-0 victory. Along with Fagen’s two goal effort was another shutout by Senior goalkeeper, Colin Dalvand, who would keep the Cougars off the board for the second time this season.
With the victory, the Panthers punched their ticket to the TCAL Finals where they will take on the Richmond High Oilers on Saturday, February 11th, in Richmond.
Panthers Beat Gauchos in Second Straight Shutout
January 30, 2023—In the second straight showdown between TCAL rivals, the Panthers would yet again defeat the El Cerrito High Gauchos in yet another 2-0 shutout. For Senior goalkeeper, Colin Dalvand, it would feel like Groundhogs Day as he would shutout the very same Gauchos as he did last Thursday when the two teams last met.
The Panthers would find the back of the net thanks to their fellow Seniors Alejandro Tejeda Gonzalez and Raul Saldana. Alejandro would score on a great setup in the final minutes of the first half to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the contest. Saldana would then get the insurance goal in the second half of the match following a corner kick attempt by Junior Darragh Westover.
The Panthers will look to keep their winning ways going as they will travel to take on their fellow cross-town rival, the Albany High Cougars, in their last matchup of the regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, February 2nd, at 6:00pm.
Panthers Top Gauchos in 2-0 Shutout
January 26, 2023—On a cool evening at El Cerrito High School, the Varsity Boys Soccer Team defeated their TCAL rivals, the El Cerrito High Gauchos, in a 2-0 shutout win. The Panthers were led by Junior, Kevin Avila, and Senior, Raul Saldana, who both found the back of the net for the Panthers.
Senior goalkeeper, Colin Dalvand, would record yet another shutout in the victory as well.
The Panthers will look to keep the momentum going into next week as they will take on the El Cerrito Gauchos yet again on Monday, January 30th, at Brady Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30pm.
Panthers Blank Jaguars 2-0, Extend Win Streak to 4 Games
January 16, 2023—On a cold, sunny day during the Martin Luther King holiday, the Panthers won their fourth straight by posting their fourth consecutive shutout, beating the Bethel High Jaguars by the score of 2-0.
The Panthers were tested early by the Jaguars as they had good scoring chances in the first half. However, Sophomore goalkeeper, Eli Mailman, kept the Jaguars off the board making brilliant save after brilliant save.
In the second half, the Panthers offense would get going as Senior, Aaron “Dutch” Turner, was awarded a penalty kick where he would eventually find the back of the net, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. The Panthers would find the back of the net once more as Junior, Kevin Avila, scored a beautiful goal to give the Panthers their second and final goal of the game as the Panthers would win the match by the score of 2-0.
The Panthers will look to extend their winning streak to 5 games as they will host the Richmond High Oilers on Senior Day. The game is scheduled for Saturday, January 21st, at 1:00PM.
Panthers Top Cross-Town Rival; Earn Back-to-Back Shutout Victories
January 12, 2023—After dealing with unbearably wet weather the past week, the weather gods did not disappoint with a sunny afternoon at Brady Park where the Panthers defeated their cross-town rival, the Albany High Cougars, by the score of 3-0, giving the Panthers their second straight shutout victory to kickoff 2023.
The Panthers got on the board early in the first half as Senior Raul Saldana gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead on a beautiful goal. Then, moments later, Junior Darragh Westover continued his hot streak as he would score the next goal for the Panthers right before halftime, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead going into halftime.
The Panthers would wrap up their strong performance with yet another insurance goal by Sophomore Colm Gallagher, putting a stamp on the Panthers 3-0 victory.
Even though the Panthers dominated on the scoreboard, Senior goalkeeper, Colin Dalvand, would earn his second straight shutout with a strong performance of his own where he made big save after big save to keep the Cougars off the board.
The Panthers will look to extend their win streak to three games when they host the Jesse Bethel High Jaguars on Monday, January 16th, at Brady Park.
Boys Soccer Return to Winning Ways to Start 2023
January 5, 2023—After losing their last two matches prior to the Christmas break, the Panthers returned to winning ways to kick off the new year with an impressive 5-0 victory over fellow TCAL opponent, the Vallejo High Red Hawks.
The Panthers got on the scoreboard early on great set piece by Senior, Alejandro Tejeda Gonzalez, that found the back of the net as his set piece was headed in by Junior, Darragh Westover, giving the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. Following Westover’s goal, Freshman Timothy Hamp would add on to the Panther lead as he would score on a wonderful goal, making the score 2-0. The Panthers would continue their dominance in the first half as they would go into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
The Panthers would find the back of the next one more time during stoppage time of the second half to cap off a great 5-0 performance at Brady Park.
The Panthers will have a few days off before their next game on Tuesday, January 10th, when they host longtime rival, the El Cerrito Gauchos, in another TCAL contest. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30PM.
Panthers Earn First Win of the Year in Decisive Fashion
December 13, 2022—On a cold evening at Corbus Field in Vallejo, CA, the Varsity Boys Soccer team notched their first victory of the season over Jesse Bethel High School by the score 5-0. The Panthers had a handful of contributors from Freshman Tim Hamp, and Seniors Kevin Avila and Alejandro Tejeda-Gonzalez. In fact, Alejandro would record his first career hat-trick in the decisive victory as well, scoring 3 of the Panthers 5 goals. The victory also marked the first win for new head coach Ankur Chablani.
The Panthers will look to build off of their strong performance as they will take on the Richmond High Oilers in another TCAL game this Thursday, December 15th. Game is scheduled for 6pm at Richmond High School.