Loss to Milken ends Santa Rosa's boys soccer season

Zavien Brady pushes the ball forward during Santa Rosa Academy's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 
By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Santa Rosa Academy boys soccer team finished out their season at home with a 3-1 loss to Milken in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs on Tuesday afternoon.

The Rangers kept the Wildcats close for most of the first half, thanks to keeper CJ Sperling. The sophomore goalie is one who makes head coach Richard Taylor really look forward to what’s ahead for this team.

“I’m excited about CJ. I see him getting a feel for it all these first two years and then totally blossoming in the next two years,” Taylor said. “He gives me hope. He’s a smart kid who is not done growing.”

The first two Milken shots found their way past Sperling around the 30-minute mark, just a few minutes apart. That 2-0 deficit meant the next 50 minutes were an uphill battle for the Rangers.

After a few close shots, Santa Rosa found the back of the net on a recovery shot from Phillip Zagone after a blocked corner kick and were just one goal away with just over 25 minutes left on the clock.

But they didn’t get many shots after that, though Sperling was still putting in work and had two major saves before stoppage time began.

In stoppage, however, Sperling made a save attempt that ended in a collision, resulting in a penalty called on him. The Wildcats made their penalty kick and sealed their win 3-1 with just a few minutes left in stoppage, in which the Rangers couldn’t convert any shots.

Taylor said a big part of the loss was the team’s low energy in the first half.

“We just came out so flat,” he said. “The hunger that we had last week, it was lacking.”

Santa Rosa finished the season with a 9-3 league record (12-8 overall) and Taylor wants people to know that, with or without a title or championship, he is proud of his squad.

“I’m more concerned with training leaders than I am with training athletes,” he said. “And we’re in a great place to do that here at Santa Rosa. We are graduating a lot of our senior leadership but we’ve got a lot of good kids coming up. It’s a good place to be.”

The Rangers were one of two programs still going in the boys soccer playoffs. Heritage defeated Azusa 1-0 and will move on to the next round in a matchup against Edgewood this Thursday.

Phillip Zagone tries to hold off an opponent while possessing the ball. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Dylan Geske kicks the ball forward for the Santa Rosa Academy Rangers. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Phillip Zagone moves the ball forward with a header on Tuesday. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)