Saint Maximilian Catholic School has 33 students in grades nine through 12, and only 18 of them are high school boys. Eight games into the fall, not one opponent has found a way to beat them.
The Napa school, who wear Kolbe-Trinity across their shirts, are 6-0-2 with 32 goals scored and 11 conceded. They sit first in NCS Division 3 and fourth of 51 teams in the Inside The Ninety North Coast Section rankings.
The clearest measure of the run came on September 23rd, when Cristo Rey De La Salle came to face them. The Oakland school has over 300 students, plays in Division 2, and arrived with a record of 4-0-0 having scored 40 goals and conceded four. Saint Maximilian beat them 4-2, and Jorge Cruz scored a hat trick. Two days later the Crusaders won 5-2 at Rio Lindo Adventist, their second win over the Spartans this month. Earlier in the month they held Summit K2, a school of over 350 students, to a 1-1 draw, and won 2-0 away at California Crosspoint, a school of over 200 students.
A Season That Taught a Lesson
None of this was predictable a year ago. Coach Alex Cendejas, now in his third season, took a talented squad to the school's first playoff appearance, but the campaign stalled along the way.
"We finished 7-8-7, and at one point went six straight games without a win," Cendejas said. "There were several matches where we were ahead and allowed teams to come back, and as the season went on, we started to lose some of the passion and belief within the group."
The Crusaders went out in the first round. Seven or eight starters then left, and Cendejas began this season with the smallest squad he has coached at the school.
"The biggest difference is the trust within the group," he said. "From the beginning, I have focused heavily on fitness, discipline, and making sure every player understands his role. These players believe in the decisions I make as their coach, and more importantly, they believe in their teammates. There is no questioning who is going to step up or who they can rely on."
Three Players Making an Impact
Our experienced players have stepped up and taken on more important roles. Three players have between them scored 21 of the side's 32 goals. Alexander Silva transferred to the school this year and stepped straight into the No. 10 role. He has seven goals and six assists. "He gives us a physical presence in midfield, can control the game, find the final pass, and score himself," Cendejas said. "Transferring schools midway through high school is not always an easy transition, but the boys welcomed him immediately." Cruz has been the difference up front. Club commitments limited him to two games last season; this year he has six goals in three appearances, including the hat trick against Cristo Rey De La Salle.
Mateo Briseño, now a junior, has been captain since his freshman year. Cendejas moved him into defensive midfield this season, where he breaks up attacks and drops into center back when needed. He has still produced eight goals and seven assists. "He does the difficult work defensively while still being one of our biggest contributors going forward," Cendejas said.
No Room for Error
Cendejas credits the whole group for the success of the team. The Crusaders have led, they have come from behind, and they have even played with nine players.
"We have faced schools much larger than ours," Cendejas said. "No matter the situation, the response has been the same: stay together and keep competing. With the numbers we have, there is very little room for error, but this group has embraced that challenge."
The next league test is a return trip to Summit K2 on Monday, October 5, against one of only two sides to have taken points off the Crusaders this season.
Editor's note: Inside The Ninety wants to tell more stories like this one. Records and results only go so far, and the best stories come from the people closest to the game. We thank Coach Cendejas for sharing his thoughts on this season's Saint Maximilian team.
If you coach a team with a story worth telling, we want to hear from you. There might be a breakout player, a season that turned around, or a group doing more with less. Email us at insidetheninety@gmail.com or send us a DM.