Sonoma Academy finish unbeaten as Bentley and Redwood Christian win league titles

The regular season is over and the NCS playoffs begin on Wednesday, November 4. Sonoma Academy finished 18-0-0 and stay first. Bentley Upper School won the Bay Counties League - East title and climb four places to fourth, and Redwood Christian won the Bay Counties League and climb three to sixth. So, can anyone stop Sonoma Academy? These rankings measure the regular season, league playoffs included.

1. Sonoma Academy

Sonoma Academy stay first and finish the regular season 18-0-0, the only unbeaten record in the division. Since our last table, they beat Anderson Valley 6-1 at home on October 23 and won 3-1 at Tomales on October 27. They won the North Central League II at 16-0, ahead of Calistoga at 13-2-1, and they played no league playoff games, so their overall record is also 18-0-0. They scored 106 goals, conceded 13 and kept nine clean sheets. Their lead over second is 3.0 rating points, down from 4.2 in our last table, because Calistoga gained ground while Sonoma Academy stood still. They beat Calistoga twice, both times by one goal, and also beat Mendocino twice and Oakland Military Institute once.

Senior night against Anderson Valley was shared around. Coach Roy Vega said senior Teo Foehl opened the scoring with a finish from about 25 yards after a give-and-go with Cole Cantrell, sophomore Ben McCauley scored twice, and Jack Ellis, Carter McGinty and Sean Stroud scored the others: "we had five different goal scorers and five different players with assists." In the games with recorded stats, junior Marcel Nsizoa Ndi has 28 goals and 12 assists, Foehl has 10 goals and 9 assists and McCauley has 11 goals and 10 assists. Vega names his four captains as Nsizoa Ndi, Foehl, Liam Kramer and Luis Sotelo. Kramer is "relentless and one of the main pieces of our defense," Sotelo "leads our defense," and the team's biggest strength, Vega said, is its chemistry: "These guys genuinely play for each other, and you can see it in how they compete to the last whistle." NCS placed Sonoma Academy in its Division 1 bracket as the second seed, with a bye. They meet the winner of McKinleyville and College Preparatory School on November 6.

2. Calistoga

Calistoga hold second and finish the regular season 16-2-2, second in the North Central League II at 13-2-1. Since our last table, they won all four: 4-0 at home to Point Arena on October 16, 3-2 at Credo on October 21, 10-0 at home to Laytonville on October 23 and 6-2 at Anderson Valley on October 27. That takes them from 12-2-2 to 16-2-2. They played no league playoff games. They gained 1.2 rating points and are 4.1 clear of third. Both of their defeats came against Sonoma Academy, 2-1 and 4-3, and their 118 goals are the most in the division.

In the games with recorded stats, senior Leo Ramos has 38 goals and 20 assists in 18 games, the most goals of any Division 2 player, freshman Alex Sarabio has 21 and sophomore Ulises Navarette has 11. Assistant coach Jeremy Grove singled out sophomore goalkeeper Mateo Gonzalez Saucedo: "We can rely on him both as a goal stopper and as someone who moves the ball well around the field." He called the midfield of Ramos, Navarette and Mateo Medina "the heart and soul of our team." Head coach Cristian Escobedo said the step his team still has to take is a mental one, against bigger schools: "I want our players to believe that Calistoga belongs among the top programs in our division, regardless of the resources or experience our opponents may have." They will get the chance. NCS placed them in its Division 1 bracket as the fifth seed, and they host Fortuna, sixth in our Division 1 table, on November 4. The winner meets Arcata on November 6.

3. Cristo Rey De La Salle

Cristo Rey De La Salle hold third. Since our last table, they beat Saint Joseph Notre Dame 10-0 at home on October 15, then lost 2-1 at home to Summit K2 on October 28. That takes them from 7-1-0 to 8-2-0. They played no league playoff games. The defeat cost them 1.3 rating points, and they are now 0.3 points ahead of Bentley Upper School. The 10-0 win is what keeps them third. Without it, they would be fourth. The defeat to Summit K2, the fourth seed in the NCS Division 2 bracket, did not cost them a place. Their schedule has been the second-lightest in the division, and their other defeat was 4-2 to Saint Maximilian Catholic School in September.

In the games with recorded stats, senior captain Omar Alvarez has 15 goals and freshman David Duenas has 12. Coach Julio Orozco explained why the side rarely looks the same twice: the school's work study program takes players away on their workdays, so "the only time we have a complete team is on Fridays," and most games are "next man up." He called this a rebuilding year after nine seniors graduated, and he credits senior goalkeeper Christian Flores and sophomore Enrique Dimas, who has stepped into a bigger role. His hope for the playoffs is simple: "As long as guys stay healthy and the team continues to play as one we hope to make a deep run." NCS made them the second seed in Division 2, with a bye. They meet the winner of Del Norte and Kelseyville on November 6.

4. Bentley Upper School

Bentley Upper School climb four places to fourth, the biggest rise in the table, and they are Bay Counties League - East champions.

Regular season: since our last table, they won three league games in nine days, 2-1 at home to College Preparatory School on October 15, 1-0 at Athenian on October 20 and 3-1 at Saint Joseph Notre Dame on October 23. That finished their regular season at 7-4-3, and their league regular season at 4-1-1, first in the Bay Counties League - East, two points ahead of Athenian.

League playoffs: in the semifinal on October 27, Saint Joseph Notre Dame led 1-0 at halftime and the game finished 2-2, and Bentley Upper School won on penalties. In the final on October 30, Athenian went ahead with a penalty, junior Koji Green had his own penalty saved and scored the rebound, and Bentley Upper School won 2-1 in overtime.

They gained 2.8 rating points. On the regular season alone, they would also be fourth. The semifinal is the one game that held them back: our model counts it as a draw at home to a side that lost all six of its regular season league games, and without that game they would be third, ahead of Cristo Rey De La Salle. They have played the third-hardest schedule in the division, and they are unbeaten in eight since a 2-1 defeat to Jewish Community on September 29, the side directly below them. Green has 10 goals in the games with recorded stats, and he scored the winning free kick at Saint Joseph Notre Dame on October 23. Senior Chase Rose opened the scoring in that game, and sophomore Keannou Iniquez Howell made it 3-1 with two minutes left. NCS placed them in its Division 1 bracket as the ninth seed, and they visit Fort Bragg, fourth in our Division 1 table, on November 4. The winner goes to Bay School of San Francisco on November 6.

5. Jewish Community

Jewish Community slip one place to fifth.

Regular season: since our last table, they lost 2-1 at home to Drew School on October 15 and 3-0 at Bay School of San Francisco on October 20, then won 3-2 at The International School of San Francisco on October 22, their second 3-2 win over the Bay Counties League - Central champions this season. That finished their regular season at 10-5-1, and their league regular season at 5-4-1.

League playoffs: they lost the Bay Counties League - Central semifinal 4-0 at The International School of San Francisco on October 27. That makes them 10-6-1 overall.

They lost 1.6 rating points. On the regular season alone, they would also be fifth. The defeat to Drew School, 11th in this division, is what cost them fourth: without it, they would be ahead of Bentley Upper School. The win at The International School of San Francisco mattered just as much the other way. Without it, they would be seventh. Their best results are among the best by any Division 2 side: two wins over The International School of San Francisco, a 2-1 win over Bentley Upper School and a 1-0 win over Gateway. In the games with recorded stats, senior Sinai Bierman has 15 goals and three assists, senior Hoshaya Cohen has six goals and seven assists, and senior goalkeeper Ahron Schweig has played all 17 games and kept five clean sheets. NCS made them the top seed in Division 2, with a bye. They meet the winner of Oakland Military Institute and Redwood Christian on November 6, and Redwood Christian beat them 3-2 in August.

6. Redwood Christian

Redwood Christian climb three places to sixth, and they are Bay Counties League champions.

Regular season: since our last table, they won 6-1 at California Crosspoint on October 15, 5-0 at Fremont Christian on October 20 and 3-0 at home to Quarry Lane on October 23, their second win over Quarry Lane this season. That finished their regular season at 11-7-0, and their league regular season at 10-0-0, first in the Bay Counties League.

League playoffs: they won the semifinal 4-1 at Fremont Christian on October 27 and the final 2-0 against Brave Christian at Las Positas College on October 29. That makes them 13-7-0 overall.

They gained 1.8 rating points and have won seven straight, since a 2-0 defeat at College Preparatory School on October 7. Every one of those wins counts. Take away any single one of their last five, the two playoff wins included, and they would be seventh, behind Mendocino. On the regular season alone, they would be seventh too, so the league playoffs are what lifted them past Mendocino. Five of their seven defeats came against Division 1 sides, Athenian and College Preparatory School twice each and Bay School of San Francisco once. The other two were 3-0 to Bentley Upper School and 3-2 to Drew School. Their best win is still the 3-2 at Jewish Community in August. NCS made them the ninth seed in Division 2, and they play Oakland Military Institute, eighth in this table, on November 4. The winner meets Jewish Community on November 6.

7. Mendocino

Mendocino slip two places to seventh, even though their rating went up. Since our last table, they lost 3-2 at Tomales on October 16, then won their last five: 4-2 at home to Point Arena and Technology, 6-0 at home to Laytonville and Geyserville New Tech Academy, and 4-2 at Laytonville on October 30. That takes them from 9-6-0 to 14-7-0. They played no league playoff games. The defeat at Tomales is what cost them. Without it, they would be fifth. On the regular season alone, they would be sixth, ahead of Redwood Christian, so it was Redwood Christian's two league playoff wins that pushed them down to seventh. The two sides are 0.1 points apart.

Six of their seven defeats came against Sonoma Academy and Calistoga, twice each, and Division 1 sides Credo and Fort Bragg. Their best win is 2-1 over Credo on October 7. In the games with recorded stats, senior Gavin Evans has 14 goals and 11 assists and senior Leo Donley has 15 goals and five assists. NCS made them the top seed in Division 3, with a bye. They meet the winner of Anderson Valley and Point Arena on November 6, and they beat both in October.

8. Oakland Military Institute

Oakland Military Institute climb two places to eighth. Since our last table, they won 6-0 at Saint Maximilian Catholic School on October 14 and 3-0 at Averroes Institute on October 21, then drew 3-3 with Saint Maximilian Catholic School on October 26. That takes them from 2-4-2 to 4-4-3. They played no league playoff games. They gained 1.7 rating points, and no single result decided the climb: they moved up because Clear Lake and Quarry Lane lost games. Only one Division 2 side has played a harder schedule. All four of their defeats came against good sides, Sonoma Academy, Bentley Upper School, Cristo Rey De La Salle and Division 1 side Athenian, and they hold a 2-2 draw at Calistoga from August. Saint Maximilian Catholic School, second in our Division 3 table, are listed by NCS as Trinity Prep and are the 11th seed in Division 2. NCS made Oakland Military Institute the eighth seed, and they play Redwood Christian on November 4.

9. Clear Lake

Clear Lake slip two places to ninth. Since our last table, they lost 2-1 at home to Cloverdale on October 15, won 3-0 at Middletown on October 20, then lost 2-1 at home to Lower Lake on October 22 and 4-0 at home to Fort Bragg on October 27. That takes them from 10-4-4 to 11-7-4, from 22 games, more than anyone else in this top ten. They played no league playoff games. They lost 1.6 rating points. The win at Middletown kept them in ninth. Without it, they would be 10th.

Coach Anthony Duncan said Levi Ewing and Eric Estrada scored at Middletown and Eric Chavez converted a penalty, while junior goalkeeper Nolan Buffalo made 15 saves for his sixth shutout. Against Lower Lake, Gael Moreno scored from senior Bairo Carmona's 15th assist, Buffalo made 11 saves, and Lower Lake won it late with a penalty. Ewing, a senior, has 25 goals in the games with recorded stats, third among Division 2 players. Duncan named defending and goalkeeping as the team's strengths, and he said they are working on "possession, 3rd man runs, staying in the pocket and playing in the half spaces." NCS made them the second seed in Division 3, with a bye. They meet the winner of Brave Christian and South Fork on November 6.

10. Quarry Lane

Quarry Lane fall four places to tenth.

Regular season: since our last table, they drew 2-2 at home with Brave Christian on October 20 and lost 3-0 at Redwood Christian on October 23. That finished their regular season at 7-3-1, and their league regular season at 7-2-1, second in the Bay Counties League behind Redwood Christian, who beat them both times.

League playoffs: they lost the semifinal 4-2 to Brave Christian on October 27. That makes them 7-4-1 overall.

They lost 2.8 rating points, the most of any side in this table. The semifinal defeat is what cost them ninth. Without it, they would be ahead of Clear Lake, and on the regular season alone they would be ninth as well. Their schedule has been the lightest in the division. In the games with recorded stats, junior Kaiyi Yang has 19 goals and four assists in eight games, and junior Jesse Wu has set up 11. NCS made them the fourth seed in Division 3, with a bye. They meet San Francisco Waldorf on November 6, and the winner could face Mendocino in the semifinals.

What is next: the NCS playoffs

NCS places teams in its playoff divisions on its own terms, so the ten sides in this table are spread across three brackets. Sonoma Academy (second seed), Calistoga (fifth) and Bentley Upper School (ninth) are in Division 1. Jewish Community (first), Cristo Rey De La Salle (second), Oakland Military Institute (eighth) and Redwood Christian (ninth) are in Division 2. Mendocino (first), Clear Lake (second) and Quarry Lane (fourth) are in Division 3. The first round is Wednesday, November 4, the quarterfinals are November 6 and 7, the semifinals are Wednesday, November 11, and the finals are November 13 and 14.

Three things to watch. A third meeting between Sonoma Academy and Calistoga could only come in the Division 1 final. Oakland Military Institute and Redwood Christian meet in the first round of Division 2, and the winner plays Jewish Community, so two sides from this table will be out by November 6. In Division 3, Mendocino and Quarry Lane are in the same half of the bracket and could meet in the semifinals.

About the ratings

The rating points in this story come from our own rankings model, not from NCS. Every team is rated on the same scale, across all four divisions, and 75 marks an average team. A result moves a rating more or less depending on who it came against: beating a strong side earns more than beating a weak one, and losing to a weak side costs more than losing to a strong one. The winning margin counts, but only up to five goals, so a 10-0 win is worth no more than a 5-0 win. Home teams get a small allowance, so an away win is worth slightly more than the same win at home. Early in the season, every rating is also pulled toward the average until a team has played enough games to show where it really stands.

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 Vega of Sonoma Academy, Coach Escobedo and Coach Grove of Calistoga, Coach Orozco of Cristo Rey De La Salle and Coach Duncan of Clear Lake for sharing their thoughts on this season's teams.

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.