The Skyline Trojans men’s soccer team’s season ended on Nov. 15, falling just short of making the postseason.
They faced off against Chabot in Hayward who were two spots ahead of Skyline in the playoff race. Chabot’s win ends the Trojans season that finished the 2005 campaign 8-9-3 and 4-1-0 in division play.
The Trojans ended the season just two spots away from a playoff spot.
“Just their level of commitment made them deserving of the playoffs,” said Daniel Link, men’s soccer coach.
The men’s soccer team had been fighting for a possible postseason birth for the past few weeks, which saw the Trojans winning 4 of their last 5 games.
A 4-game winning streak with key wins over Foothill and Las Positas rejuvenated the Trojans with the season winding down.
“We still have a chance to make it,” said Eder Castro, mid-fielder, before the game against Evergreen Valley.
Damon Baliu said, “We hope to finish in the top 12.”
The Trojans, who began the season with a slow start, going 2-5-1 in their first 8 games, have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10? Games.
Link and his players agree that a slow start and lack of luck may have hindered the Trojans at the beginning of the season.
“Our record doesn’t even start to dictate the team,” said Link “If you followed the games and ask anybody in the conference or who has watched us, they’d tell you the same thing.”
But once the winning started, confidence picked up.
“We started to play as a team,” said Castro.
Before their season high streak ended, the Trojans defeated Ohlone College in San Bruno, 5-2, on Nov. 4. Jeff Ardoin and Edwin Vidaurre each scored twice two goals; Gustavo Monteiro Pires added another. Jose Ruiz contributed to 4 assists and Monteiro Pires also had an assist.
However, the Trojans season high 4-game winning streak abruptly ended on Nov. 8 in Saratoga. The Trojans played visitor to West Valley College, which saw their steak end with a 2-1 loss. Co-captain Ruben Salazar scored the lone goal for Skyline.
“It was a heartbreaker,” said Link. “We did everything we needed to do, except finish. We out shot them, we had more possession, but we made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized.”
This loss knocked Skyline down two spots out of a playoff birth as of Nov. 10.
“We’re hoping Chabot loses to West Valley and we could sneak in and go to 12th,” said Castro, before the Nov. 8 match between Chabot and Evergreen Valley.
However, Castro didn’t get his wish as Chabot defeated Evergreen Valley 1-0. The loss virtually eliminated Skyline, but kept them mathematically alive.
“We really expected a lot…from the first day of practice, this was our goal,” said Castro. “With the players that we have, we thought it would be possible to make it (playoffs).”
Baliu said, “It’s disappointing to not make the playoffs.”
Nevertheless, Baliu thinks that there is positive to come from this season:
“It’s not disappointing because we became better players. We all learned a lot of things on the field.”