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Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
James Burns: Los Banos could be a contender for CCC soccer
LOS BANOS -- The Central California Conference soccer race has got a new contender.
The darkhorse, dressed in burgundy and gold.
A true longshot.
James Burns, sports editor
Los Banos coach Daniel Elizalde announced his team's candidacy from the sidelines of last Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Turlock.
With his team huddled around him, Elizalde set the tone for his squad's final five games.
"The competition is not over," the first-year varsity coach told his boys. "Basically, we have to win every single game. It's not impossible.
"But if we don't..."
Elizalde paused, sorting through his emotions.
"But if we don't, I'll be happy with the way this team has worked."
Indeed.
Los Banos is .500 in conference play, relevant for once in October, and absolutely loving every minute of it.
And why not?
In a season largely dominated by the Merced schools, Los Banos has proven to be the biggest threat to the crown.
Elizalde's boys have become the quintessential spoiler, shaking up the league table by springing upset after unlikely upset.
With last Wednesday's win, Los Banos (3-3-1 CCC) has won two straight games and suddenly finds itself tied with Turlock (3-3-1) and Buhach Colony (3-3-1) for third place with 10 points.
Merced (5-0-1) is in first with 16 points, one ahead of Golden Valley (5-2).
The top two teams advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.
"We have been improving, little by little," said Elizalde, who credits the sharp turnaround to a growing interest in year-round soccer in the community.
"Things are starting to turn in Los Banos' favor. All I can do is congratulate the players for their patience and working together. We win as a team, we lose as a team.
"We have been beating some tough teams, but we can't get overconfident. That fact won't guarantee we'll win the second one."
It certainly makes Los Banos a team of interest in the second half, and Elizalde can't remember the last time that's been the case.
Before this season, Los Banos had won just one conference game in the past two seasons.
"From a coaching perspective, a neutral position, this is good for the league," Golden Valley coach Lee Shaw said. "Too bad it's their last year in our league."
LB is going out with a bang. Its 2009 win count is impressive, not because of volume but who it's beaten.
Two of Los Banos' three CCC victories have come against teams that have qualified for the Division I playoffs at least once in the last three years.
First, it outlasted Atwater (2-5) in a scoring free-for-all on Sept. 21. Senior forward Jose Romo had an afternoon to rival his namesake, Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo. The striker scored four goals, highlighting a 7-4 victory.
Atwater was only a week removed from halting Golden Valley's eight-game unbeaten streak, and the loss sent the 2006-07 champions into a spiral.
Atwater has lost five of its last six games.
"In the past, they've had a difficult time holding things together -- even if they've had a few talented players," Atwater coach Jimmy Brewer said. "It seems like they've always struggled to play well together."
The result was shocking, until...
Los Banos did it again, this time beating BC and Turlock in consecutive games last week.
Up next is Golden Valley, a team Los Banos had on the ropes early in a 4-0 loss.
The two meet on the back lot at Golden Valley High at 4 p.m.
"They got a breakaway and (Memo Ramirez) had to make a top-quality save," Shaw said recalling the tentative first minutes of their initial meeting.
"If they got that first goal who knows what would have happened. The first goal can make all the difference in a game."
Shaw has been paying attention to the league standings. He handles the weekly updates for the conference, so he's well aware of Los Banos' improved play.
"They do have their holes. They don't have a solid, solid 11, but they have quality players," Shaw said. "As the season has gone along, they've learned to use those players.
"We're going to have to be on our game. It's been awhile since we played them, so I know they'll be a different team. We've got to be on our toes."
James Burns is sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.
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