Archbishop Mitty coach Cesar Sanchez speaks with his team after the host Monarchs defeated McClatchy-Sacramento 3-2 on Tuesday in the Northern California Division I boys soccer regional tournament. (Darren Saavedra/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE — In its first game since winning the Central Coast Section Division I boys soccer championship last weekend, Archbishop Mitty entered Tuesday's district first-round game with a lot of energy.
The Monarchs had a flurry of chances in the first 15 minutes, but none of their shots found the net.
Then, in the 19th minute, McClatchy's Nathanial Ochoa scored off a deflection.
Meety suddenly came behind her.
“It was frustrating,” senior Manuel Portillo said. “But we knew we could get back. We were playing well. We've had some really tough games recently. We knew we'd get back on track after that.”
The Monarchs regrouped and soon the scoreboard started to change in their favor.
Mitty scored three goals before the halftime whistle to take a two-point advantage and held off a determined team with a sack vs. Joaquin section to win 3-2.
It was the Monarchs' first NorCalifornia Division I win in program history, and the second-seeded San Jose school advances to the semifinals Thursday at home against either sixth-seeded Mountain View or third-seeded Clovis North.
Giuseppe Sigala leveled the score in the 28th minute with a shot into the far side of the goal. The ball hit the post and went inside.
It didn't stay tied for long.
In the 38th minute, Sigala sent a clean cross pass to Portillo, who briefly controlled the ball and kicked the ball past the goalkeeper.
A few minutes later, Portillo was back to work.
This time his shot hit the post and shot again past the goalkeeper.
“They were basically the same play,” Portillo said of his two goals. “I made a couple of passes down the middle and shifted the pass a little bit to one side so the other side was open. I put a simple finish on the back post on both. The second one was a little more difficult. I hit the post, but I was able to get the rebound.”
Despite the sudden two-point lead, McClatchy (21-6-5) didn't make it easy for Mitty (18-2-4) in the second half.
Darwin Mendiola scored in the 51st minute to cut the deficit to one point, and Sacramento School Life continued to push until time expired.
Mitti coach Cesar Sanchez said his team's two goals just before halftime were important, but not just because they provided a cushion, but because of the timing in which they happened.
“Timing was very important,” Sanchez said. “Right now, when you go into halftime, you say, 'Okay, we bounced back, even if we had a little mistake and they scored.' They're a good team. They're very threatening with their long throws. They were very effective and looked very threatening on the counter in the middle.Everyone is fine now.
“They didn't give up. Even when we led 3-1, they came back 3-2 and were like, 'Oh, shit, this is it.' We're not going to take a break. ”
But the Monarchs will hold out and will have at least one more game.
