NHB advances at State Cup

NHB Black boys Under-10 soccer team advanced to the State Cup

semifinals by winning three matches last weekend in Lancaster.

Playing in 40 degree weather and hampered by 20 mph winds, the Black

collected their third win of the tournament, which began the weekend of

Feb. 5-6, by beating Presidio League AAA champion PQ Premier Red of

Rancho Penasquitos, 8-4. Christian Ramirez topped NHB with four goals in

the victory, and Esteban Orejel added two more goals.

The Coast Soccer League Silver South champions next took care of the

Bonita Rebels, 4-2, as goals by Ramirez, Chris Velez, Ryan Lehane,

Jonathon Rivas, and Avi Villon provided the offensive punch. That win put

NHB in the quarterfinal round, where they outlasted San Diego County Cup

champion TSC-Martinez of Temecula, 4-3. Going with the wind (which

produced gusts up to 30 mph) in the second half, the Black was able to

break free from a 2-2 halftime time, using Ramirez’s go-ahead goal with

10 minutes left, and Orejel’s game-winning score with three minutes

remaining.

NHB, which will take on the Del Mar Sharks in Saturday’s semifinal play

at the Lancaster National Soccer Center, opened tournament play the

previous weekend with two victories and a tie.

Chris Velez scored two goals to lead the way in a Feb. 5 6-1 triumph over

the RSF Attack of Rancho Santa Fe. Favian Robiatti, Ramirez, Orejel, and

Bobby Tornel also scored, and Matt Wood, Lehane, and Jhovany Hernandez

provided the defense in a match played in a drizzle.

The sun broke out later that Saturday afternoon, and NHB broke through

with a 5-0 shutout of Arsenal FC. Rivas, Patrick Sheffield, and goalie

Randy Brito shut down the Arsenal attack, and the Black offense included

two goals apiece of Ramirez and Orejel, and one on Robiatti’s penalty

kick.

The tie was a scoreless affair with Presidio League AA champion San Diego

Surf.