The Valley Chronicle - Huskies outrun the Cougarsng

North Mountain Middle School boys soccer team bested Acacia; winning Valley League championship for second year running, 3-1

[caption id="attachment_9231" align="alignright" width="576"] Photo by Corey Evan / The Valley Chronicle
The Huskies are number one for the second year in a row![/caption] ■ Corey Evan / Reporter Junior high school sports may not attract the kinds of crowds their high school counterparts bring in each year, but a win at any level feels just as good. Already a winning team last year, North Mountain Middle School boys soccer team proved themselves a winning team again this year, losing only once in the season to Rancho Viejo. After school on Thursday, Feb. 15, the North Mountain Huskies were once again in the Valley League championships, hosting the Acacia Middle School Cougars once more. The first half was largely uneventful, except for a Cougar slip-and-fall about a minute in. That was until Husky goalkeeper Giovanni Aparicio helped teammate Fabian Rodriguez stir up the North Mountain side of the sidelines with the 1st goal of the afternoon, fifteen minutes in. The Huskies kicked off the second half with a goal by Abraham Suarez less within the first minute. Six minutes later, the Cougars took advantage of a Husky foul, scoring on a free kick. But with ten minutes left in the game, Husky Ocean Molina put the distance needed between his team and Acacia’s. For the second year in a row, North Mountain keeps the Valley League trophy, with a score of 3-1. This also marks the Huskies’ third consecutive championship appearance. Husky coach Scott Muller says this year’s championship game was a bit of a toughie. “Rough game!” he said. “Acacia played really well on the ground--they know how to play the game. It was tough for us. We got a lucky break to start, and I think my team got a lot of momentum from that and we just kept pushing it.” After pushing this game to victory, the Huskies pulled the water dispenser from the sidelines and drenched Muller to top off this victory. At least the grass got watered in the process. On behalf of the Valley Chronicle, congratulations to the back-to-back champions, the Huskies!