BOYS' SOCCER: PALMDALE HOPES IT CAN PUSH BACK.Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer PALMDALE - Despite a roster that included the Golden League player of the year and four other all-league players, last season's Palmdale boys' soccer team finished fifth and missed the playoffs. It was, third-year coach Jeremy Kriss said, a matter of a ``very talented team underachieving.'' There will be no underachieving this year. All those players have graduated. The Falcons hope to overachieve o·ver·a·chieve intr.v. o·ver·a·chieved, o·ver·a·chiev·ing, o·ver·a·chieves To perform better or achieve more success than expected. o with a team that is physically small and lacks varsity experience. ``Last year, when we played lower competition our standards would lower to theirs and we wouldn't play as well,'' said forward Alan Piolatto Jr., a team captain with midfielder
In association football, a midfielder is a player whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers and the defenders (highlighted in blue on the diagram). Antonio De La Torre Antonio de la Torre (born November 18, 1977 in Guadalajara, Mexico) is a Mexican-American soccer defender, who recently played for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the USL First Division. De la Torre holds dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. . ``Most people are expecting us to finish fifth place again, but we think we can do better.'' So far, fifth place is looking like a step up. The Falcons started the season 1-6-1. ``We've been pushed around and have not responded,'' Kriss said. But the Falcons hope being pushed around in the preseason will toughen them up for league play. They didn't play at home until their eighth game, and against good teams. The only game that hasn't been within two goals was an 8-1 loss to Santa Margarita Santa Margarita ("Saint Margaret") may refer to:
``We've played a lot of the top teams in California,'' Piolatto said. ``It's really helping us prepare for the season, though. Hopefully, we'll start doing a little better.'' Piolatto is an example of Palmdale's lack of size. The senior is 5-foot-4 and doesn't reach 140 pounds. This is the first season Piolatto will be playing without his brother, Mike, who is going to Bakersfield College BC was founded in 1913 and initially housed on the campus of Bakersfield High School (then Kern County Union High School) before moving in 1956 to its current location "on the hill" in northeast Bakersfield. and plans to play soccer next year. Palmdale returns three-year starter Cesar Lopez at goalkeeper. The Falcons are hoping for big things from Jaime Hernandez, a sophomore midfielder already starting. The future looks bright with quality junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. players. The Golden League is competitive this season. Quartz Hill is defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del título defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre and league favorite, but Palmdale came within a goal of the Rebels last season. Littlerock, Highland and Lancaster are expected to compete for the remaining two playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. spots. ``It will be difficult for us this year,'' Kriss said. ``We're hoping that this lays the groundwork for next season.'' AT A GLANCE Team: Palmdale boys' soccer Coach: Jeremy Kriss, third year Last season: 11-9-3, 4-5-1 (fifth place in Golden League) Key returnees: Antonio De La Torre, Sr., midfielder; Alan Piolatto, Jr., senior, forward; Cesar Lopez, Sr., goalkeeper Key newcomer: Jaime Hernandez, So., midfielder CAPTION(S): box |
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