A year ago, Glencoe's boys soccer team struggled to get out of the gate, opening the season 1-6-1 before recovering to win its third 6A Pacific Conference title in four seasons.
This year – with eight starters back and the addition of a talented transfer from Hillsboro in junior forward Hansel De Leon – the Crimson Tide is getting early results.
Glencoe is 4-0 and has climbed to No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll heading into Tuesday night's game at No. 5 Lakeridge, the reigning 6A champion. The Crimson Tide has defeated South Albany 4-0, South Salem 3-2, Centennial 1-0 and La Salle Prep 4-3.
“We've played probably four of the best first halves that I've seen in coaching for a while, for my own teams,” Glencoe coach Tom Stephens said. “We've played four tough teams and come out on the right side.”
The Crimson Tide graduated their outstanding midfielder in Christian Martinez Trejo, a four-year starter, but is winning with an attack that comes from all angles. The team features senior forward Chente Spindola (Pacific player of the year, 6A first team), senior midfielder Diego Alvarado Roldan (Pacific first team) and De Leon.
“They're playing very, very unselfish, including some of our top guys,” Stephens said. “Chente is playing at a different level. He's playing super unselfish up top. He's playing really, really well with Hansel. Because of their unselfishness, they're getting more scoring opportunities. It's coming back to them.”
Glencoe's biggest victory came at 5A No. 1 La Salle Prep, which owns a 3-0 win over Lakeridge. The Crimson Tide led 4-0 with 16 minutes left – getting two goals from Spindola and single tallies from sophomore Lester Rivas and junior Josiah Hernandez – and survived a three-goal explosion by La Salle Prep senior star Vance Sheffield to win.
Stephens liked how his team kept its composure after Sheffield's third goal made it 4-3 with eight minutes left.
“Our guys kind of buckled down and played patiently those last eight minutes,” Stephens said. “If they would have played frantic, we could have lost the game. It was really good for us going into the future.”
Alvarado Roldan, senior Daniel Torres and juniors Sam Rodriguez and Ivan Velasquez scored against South Albany. De Leon had a hat trick against South Salem, including the game-winner with 3:56 remaining. De Leon's first-half penalty kick was the difference against Centennial, a game in which Glencoe senior goalkeeper David Downey stopped a penalty kick in the first half.
“He's playing awesome in the box. He's having a great season,” Stephens said of Downey, who is aided by a back line that includes junior David Olvera, a Pacific second-team pick last season.
Despite finishing 5-8-2 last season and losing to Wells 2-1 in the first round of the 6A playoffs, Glencoe was highly competitive throughout, never surrendering more than three goals in a match. Five of the team's eight losses were by one goal.
“They believed last year,” Stephens said. “We had a great group of guys, but we gave up late goals. They believe this year, and they're just a little bit more experienced, and a little bit more patient.
“This is a unique team that I'm finding really plays exceptionally well together. Because of their desire to play for each other, we've played better.”
The Crimson Tide will be pushed in the Pacific by teams such as No. 7 McMinnville (3-0), Forest Grove (4-0) and Sherwood (2-0-1), who also have yet to lose a match.
“In our conference, anybody can beat anybody,” said Stephens, who collected his 200th career victory against South Salem. “There's not a game where we can take a day off.”
Glencoe plays Lakeridge, Tualatin, Mountainside and Oregon City before opening Pacific play Oct. 7 at McMinnville. The game against Lakeridge (3-1) should be revealing.
“We're going to have to play one of our best games to play with them,” Stephens said. “We're expecting a donnybrook.”
Notes: No. 4 Jesuit won at No. 1 Lincoln 2-1 in a 6A nonleague match Sept. 12. The Crusaders got goals from Grant Sasaki in the 15th minute and Vala Saghafi in the 25th minute. … Stayton, ranked No. 1 in 4A, went on the road Sept. 12 for a 3-1 win over No. 5 Tillamook. Addison Samuell recorded a hat trick. … Adrian Vidican of No. 3 Westside Christian had six goals and one assist to lead a 9-1 win at Gervais on Sept. 12 in a 3A/2A/1A nonleague game. Westside Christian plays at No. 1 Catlin Gabel on Tuesday. …
Oregon City's Grant Dueul had three goals in a 5-2 win at Hillsboro on Sept. 10 and two goals in a 4-3 win at Barlow on Sept. 12. … Oregon Episcopal's Ryder Sendecke racked up four goals and four assists in the team's first three games, all wins. He scored twice in a 6-0 win over reigning 3A/2A/1A champion McLoughlin. … Tyler McIntosh was integral in Grants Pass winning its first two games, scoring three goals to lead a 5-0 victory over Newberg and accounting for both goals as the Cavemen dropped South Medford 2-1. …
Trailing Mountainside 2-0 and down a man with 15 minutes left, Hood River Valley's Julian Lara Martinez scored three goals to lift his team to a 4-2 win. … Century's AJ Peterson scored three goals in a 15-minute span of the first half as his team routed Putnam 6-1 on Sept. 4. … James Cure collected six goals to propel Tigard past Central 8-0 on Sept. 10.
