After a strenuous season of adapting to a new coach, and facing long-time rivals Gunn, Paly varsity boys soccer team ended the season with a 1-0 victory over Mountain View claiming the league on Tuesday, and a 3-0 victory over the Gunn Titans.

Paly’s spirits were high heading into Tuesday’s game with a 6-2 record and hopes that the team would finish the season with a victory and head into CCS strong and able. "Despite two disappointing losses to Santa Clara and Los Gatos our team was holding our heads up high after our early victories over Los Altos and Gunn," junior Jean Choi said. "We were confident that we would be able to defeat Mtn. View and clinch the league title and head into CCS at the top of our league."

Right from the opening kickoff Paly took control of the ball and kept the pressure on Mtn. View. Just seven minutes into the game Senior Michael Bianchi worked around a defender and shot at the goal. The shot deflected off the goal post and into the feet of Junior Manny Barragan who kicked it in for a goal and a 1-0 lead over Mtn. View.

"I saw Mike blow by the defender and prepare to take the shot so I took the chance to get into position for a deflected shot," Barragan said. "After the ball bounced off the goal and to me I did what any player would have done and shot it in. After the game I was grateful for helping the team claim the title and head into CCS pumped and ready."

Paly stayed in control of the ball for the rest of the half forcing Mtn. View to stay back and play defense instead of pushing forward to score. However in the second half fatigue kicked in for the Vikings and Mtn. View made several attempts to score as Paly’s defense waned. Thanks to some clutch saves by juniors Harrison Newkirk and Cameron Taylor the defense was able to hold until Paly’s forwards took control again.

"Going into the game the defensive players knew that in past games they had let up at late parts of the game and that if the team was going to clinch against Mt. View they couldn’t do that this game," junior Alex Jugant said. "Thanks to Harrison who had some great saves while the defense let up and Cameron who cleared the ball at crucial moments we were able to hold stop Mtn View from scoring unlike in past games."

Yesterday Paly faced off against Gunn for the last game of the season. Even though the league title was clinched, the team played hard to defeat their rivals. "It was great being able to come back from a season long injury and take it to our rival (Gunn)," junior David White said. The score was a crushing 3-0 victory for Paly with two goals by junior Pierre Meloty-Kapella and one by Bianchi.

Now Paly heads to CCS at the top of their league along with Gunn and Mtn. View. The team has high hopes for playoffs and is likely to qualify for States. "We are all at the top of our games right now and have strengthened many of the weaknesses from the beginning of the season," Jugant said. "Right now we are practicing harder than ever and have confidence that we will make it to States."