Viewpoint tripped up in championship game
Boys' soccer squad loses to Animo, 4-1
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PHYSICAL PLAY- Viewpoint's Kian Torabian, right, tries to get through Victor Galicia's slide tackle.

The breaks, the bounces, the calls- they didn't go Viewpoint's way Saturday afternoon in the CIF-Southern Section Division VI boys' soccer championship.

Viewpoint, making its first title game appearance in school history, was defeated by Animo Leadership of Inglewood 4-1. The game was played at Allen Layne Stadium on the campus of Downey High School.

The loss was Viewpoint's first since Dec. 28, 2006. The Patriots, champions of the Liberty League, finished the season 19-2-6 overall.

"We gave them everything we could give them," Viewpoint head coach Travis Kikugawa said. "We showed up ready to play. But in the end, they just had a little bit too much firepower for us."

Animo (30-0) completed one of the finest seasons in Southern Section history.

The top-seeded Aztec Eagles scored 182 goals, shattering the CIFSS record. During the 199596 season, La Canada High scored 145 goals. Animo also smashed the state record of 147 goals, set in 2003 by Jesuit of Carmichael.

"They have so many skill players," Kikugawa said. "You can strategize and do X's and O's, but in the end, you know, their great offensive players can break down your defense."

Viewpoint's defense recorded 17 shutouts and was impenetrable for much of the season. The Patriots, however, came out a bit jittery against Animo, and the Aztec Eagles were able to capitalize when Rafael Baca scored two minutes into the match.

Viewpoint quickly gathered its composure and soon answered back.

In the 29th minute, with the Patriots in the Animo zone, Viewpoint's Jeff Safenowitz lobbed a free kick toward the opposing goal. Sophomore Patrick Handy leaped high in the air and used his head to rip the ball into the back of the Animo net, tying the score at one goal a piece.

"We practice that all year," Handy said. "He just tries to put it in a spot; that's where all the focus is. On this one I was open and we scored."

Nine minutes later, just before halftime, the referee awarded Animo a penalty kick after senior Johnny Aleman went down in front of the Viewpoint goal.

Aleman converted the kick, giving Animo a 21 lead at intermission. To the chagrin of the Patriots, the Aztec Eagles had gained some much-needed momentum.

"That's a game-changing call," Kikugawa said.

Viewpoint had its chances to even the score during the first 20 minutes of the second half.

Following a dazzling, onehanded save by senior goalkeeper Naveed Majd to open the second half, Viewpoint's most productive and creative goal scorers- Spencer Brown and Evan Raynr- both missed scoring chances near the Animo net. Brown's shot was soft and low, while Raynr sailed another ball over the crossbar.

"You don't always get those opportunities, and you'd like to take advantage of them," Brown said. "I was down on myself the very second it happened. But you've got to keep your head up and keep playing."

Junior midfielder Roberto Alvarez added Animo's third goal in the 64th minute when he navigated a free kick into the corner of the Viewpoint goal. Baca's second score of the afternoon made it 4-1.

The ending wasn't storybook, but Brown said it was the journey that mattered most.

"The whole season was pretty magical," Brown said. "We didn't get the end that we were hoping for, but we're all proud of what we did."

With Raynr, Handy, Safenowitz, Travis Metzger, Kian Torabian and a slew of other talented players expected to return next season, Kikugawa knows his team will be good a year from now.

"Hopefully our returning guys can get a taste of this and show up next year prepared to work hard again," Kikugawa said. "We'll schedule tough Division I schools in the preseason and put ourselves in a position to win."