By Jon Chown
SAN JOSE — The Aptos High School boys and girls soccer teams both won the first Central Coast Section soccer championship in the school’s history on Saturday at Del Mar High School.
Scarlett Stateler and Alexa Castaneda (9) hug as teammate Isabella Hartnett runs in to join them after Castaneda scored the game’s only goal on Saturday at Del Mar High School in San Jose.
The girls, the top seed in Division III, defeated No. 2 seed King’s Academy 1-0 in the first of the two championship matches. The Mariners controlled the ball and kept the pressure on their opponent nearly the entire match, but couldn’t get past their goalie until, with about 15 minutes remaining, Isabella Hartnett was able to penetrate the defense and pass the ball to Alexa Castaneda who then scored.
After the game, Hartnett said King’s Academy was really good, especially the goalie, but her coach’s game plan was better. “We had a Power Point. We watched their film and got details on them and and were able to find their weak spots.”
Aptos Coach Gina Castaneda said it was a great effort by her team, which created a number of opportunities. The score could easily have been 3-0.
The Aptos High girls soccer team celebrates their victory after the final whistle.
“We knew coming in that we were going to have to drag her (the goalie) out of position to get a ball in and that’s exactly what happened,” said Coach Gina Castaneda after the game. “She is very, very good. I don’t know how many saves she made, but she made a ton.”
It was the 13th victory in a row for the Mariners, who are now 17-4-1, and will move on to the D-III CIF NorCal Regional playoffs. Aptos, seeded 5th, will play the 4th seed, Sonoma Academy, on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Santa Rosa.
Castaneda said she was extremely proud of the girls and really appreciated all of their hard work this season. “They made history,” she said.
Boys Defeat Carlmont 2-1
The boys team, the No. 2 seed in the Division IV playoffs, started slow, as Carlmont controlled the ball and the match early and went up 1-0 just five minutes into the match. The early deficit seemed to wake the Mariners up.
Aptos High’s Haziel Parra battles for control of the ball.
Once trailing, the Mariners (16-2-3) took control of the game. They responded quickly with a goal in the 13th minute when Zavala chased down a long pass from teammate Julian Torres that landed between his defender and the goalie.
Zavala raced past his defender and kicked the ball past the goalie, just as he was reaching for it, to tie the game at 1-1.
Aptos stayed in control of the ball much of the remainder of the match until Haziel Parra scored the game winner with about 10 minutes left in the second half.
“We got it done: CCS champions and first-ever in the history of the Aptos High Boys Soccer Program. I’m very proud of this team,” said Coach Roberto Zuniga.
The boys have been seeded No. 4 in the D-IV CIF NorCal Regional playoffs and will play No. 5 seed East Union of Manteca (24-4-2) on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Aptos High School.
Aptos High’s Josiah Siquieros controls a pass in the middle of the defense.
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Strong Performances By Mariners Varsity in CCS Quarterfinals
It was a great weekend for Aptos High School soccer as both the boys and girls teams advanced in the Central Coast Section Divisional playoffs with victories over their quarterfinal opponents.
Aptos High sophomore Emilie Santiago (2) dribbles through Gilroy High School defenders Katherine Montero Carillo (7) and Roslyn Hernandez (23) in the second half.
The girls, ranked No. 1 in the CCS D-III playoffs, played right before the boys took the field in the CCS D-IV playoffs. They dominated Gilroy, the eighth seed, winning 3-0 with two goals by Alex Castaneda and another off the foot of Emilie
Santiago, who also had an assist.
It was the Mariners’ first playoff victory since 2019, even though the team has won the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League four times in a row.
“It feels great to win,” said coach Christian Diaz. “For quite a few years we’ve been trying to get out of the first round.”
Head Coach Gina Castaneda missed the moment as she was in Atlanta for the U.S. Soccer Annual Meeting where she was presented with the Kim Crabbe Game Changers Award, recognizing her dedication to service, leadership, and community impact through soccer.
Aptos High senior Alex Castaneda, who scored two goals in the Feb. 22 match, dribbles past Gilroy’s Itzel Bocanegra (13) and Leslie Arellano (14).
“She’ll be very happy to hear this,” Diaz said.
Aptos took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Castaneda scored on a penalty kick.
The Mariners continued to put pressure on Gilroy throughout the second half, dominating the ball, until Santiago scored on a breakaway in the 44th minute.
Late in the game, at the 75th minute, Castaneda scored again, launching a deep kick from about 25 yards out that sailed in.
The girls, 15-4-1 overall after the victory, faced No. 4 seed Sequoia of Redwood City in the seminal on Feb. 25, hours after this publication was sent to print.
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Boys Come From Behind
With time running out in regulation, Aptos High midfielder Nicolas Topete floated a ball to forward Ivan Zavala, who charged towards the goal and blasted the ball into the back of the net to put the Mariners up 2-1 in the 78th minute for the eventual victory.
Aptos High’s Nicolás Topete (16) dribbles past a North Salinas High School defender in the first half of the Feb. 22 match at Aptos High School.
It was a tough match, with North Salinas taking an early 1-0 lead on a penalty kick in the sixth minute of the game. The Mariners were able to put pressure on the North Salinas defense intermittently throughout the first half and then got their own PK in the 38th minute, which Josiah Siqueiros converted to tie the match at 1-1.
Aptos kept up the pressure in the second half and got another PK, but missed it. As the game wound down, in the 78th minute, Zavala’s goal put Aptos ahead 2-1.
“A few plays later the center referee blew his whistle and our entire team celebrated victoriously,” said Coach Roberto Zuniga.
Aptos High’s Ivan Zavala (7) strikes a free kick around a North Salinas High wall.
Zuniga said the defensive line of Daniel Lozano, Benji Maciel, David Sebastian Killpatrick and Isaiah Acevedo did a great job of defending the goal.
“Team Captain (Center Defensive Midfielder) Damian Garcia, played many through passes and held strong, along with Haziel Parra and Nicolas Topete, through 80 minutes creating opportunities for our team,” he said. “This is a special moment, a special team and our coaching staff is very proud of this group of boys.”
The boys played their next match, the semifinal game, versus Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 26, several hours after this publication was sent to print. Their record stood at 14-2-3.
Aptos High’s Haziel Parra battles for control of the ball.