OCEANSIDE —
With senior standout Tanner Wrzeski established in goal, onetime backup Brando Oros answered the call to switch to center back for the San Pasqual High boys soccer team last season.
And that’s just where Oros has stayed this season for the defending San Diego Section Open Division champion. Since Oros also serves as a team captain, he’s definitely in the center of the Eagles regrouping following the graduation of seven starters.
Consider the effort on track, evidenced by San Pasqual reaching the National Showcase final of the 27th annual SoCal High School Classic tournament before falling on penalty kicks 5-3 to Gilbert (Ariz.) Perry at Oceanside High on Thursday.
In regulation play, the Eagles (5-3-1) rallied with a goal by sophomore Joaquin Valadez 13 minutes into the second half to force overtime. Then neither San Pasqual nor the Pumas (10-1-1) could convert for a golden goal in the two 10-minute overtime periods.
“We had an unlucky result this time, but we showed some resilience coming back after trailing 1-0 at halftime,’’ Oros said. “I’m really proud of the boys, In fact, it’s only up from here. This (tourney) has brought the brotherhood together. It has made all of us more confident.’’
This follows an uneven start for San Pasqual, which also advanced to the Southern California Regional Division I final a year ago.
“At the beginning of the season, we were kind of heavy headed,’’ Oros said. “We were so focused on last year that we weren’t in the right mind to prepare for this year. After a couple of games, we started to turn it around.’’
Junior Derek Reyna has replaced Wrzeski, who earned section Player of the Year honors last season before heading to Point Loma Nazarene University. Even though Reyna didn’t play goal last year, he sought to return to his youth position in joining the varsity.
“I was pretty decent at it then, so I decided to try out.’’ said Reyna, a cornerback in football. “Then I made the team, and I’ve just gotten better overall.’’
Reyna recorded shutouts in the first two tourney games, and in the final, he allowed only a first-half own goal on a deflection beyond his reach high into the net.
“I had my reservations at first (about Reyna) because he hadn’t played in goal, but he’s really impressed me in every single game,’’ San Pasqual coach John Burson said. “He’s still working on the technique part, but he has all of the right qualities — he’s brave, athletic and confident.’’
The Eagles rode a four-game winning streak into the tourney final. In their two previous outings, senior Charaboy Iniestra scored four of their five goals.
Perry, located near Phoenix, competed in an out-of-state tournament for the first time.
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