Monte Vista Advances with 3–1 Win Over San Ramon Valley in Physical EBAL Playoff Battle

In a high-intensity EBAL playoff matchup filled with aerial duels, long throws, and rising tension, Monte Vista earned a 3–1 victory over San Ramon Valley in a match that gradually tilted in MV’s favor through persistence and control in key moments.

Monte Vista struck first through Peyton Miller (#23), who opened the scoring early to give MV a 1–0 lead and immediately established himself as a physical presence in the attack. San Ramon Valley responded well to going behind. Shortly after conceding, Hudson Forrest (#7, Sr.) broke through on a counterattack and calmly finished a breakaway to even the match at 1–1. His run in behind shifted momentum, and for a stretch the match felt balanced with both sides pressing aggressively off the ball.

As the first half progressed, Monte Vista leaned heavily into set pieces and long throws. With under ten minutes remaining, MV capitalized on a corner kick, where Henry Heddan (#8) rose above traffic and powered home a header to reclaim a 2–1 advantage. The defender was strong all match anchoring the back line and made his presence felt in the air on both ends of the field. The final minutes before halftime grew increasingly physical, with several yellow cards issued as challenges intensified. SRV nearly found another equalizer off a long throw that bounced into the net, but the goal was waved off for a foul, sending MV into the break ahead.

Monte Vista opened the second half with the same aggressive mindset. Peyton Miller (#23) continued to be a constant aerial threat, nearly adding another off a bouncing long throw that sailed just over the bar. Colin Job (#14) was especially effective in hold-up play, helping connect transitions and winning second balls around the top of the box as MV pushed numbers forward. In midfield, Brody Anand (#10) stood out as a composed, physical presence, dictating tempo and delivering dangerous service on both set pieces and through balls during the game, consistently finding wingers in space.

San Ramon Valley showed resilience defensively despite the sustained pressure from Monte Vista.

Ethan Day (#2, Sr.) stepped up in key moments, delivering a strong 1v1 stop against Peyton Miller (#23) and making timely tackles to disrupt MV’s rhythm. Alongside him, Matteo Vannini (#4, Sr.) was composed under pressure, matching up physically with Miller and limiting clean looks inside the box.

The SRV goalkeeper, Braydon Kimball (#1, So.) produced multiple important saves to keep the deficit at one. His best moment came during a heavy stretch of MV possession, reacting quickly inside the box to deny a close-range opportunity and prevent the match from slipping further away.

In midfield, Alexander Lee (#10, Sr.) helped settle play when SRV needed control, connecting passes under pressure and linking the back line to the attack. Further forward, Omar Saifan (#11, Sr.) remained active in the attacking third, drawing fouls, battling physically, and looking to spark opportunities for SRV to break forward.

Despite SRV’s defensive effort, Monte Vista’s ability to win second balls and dominate in the air continued to create chances. With 14 minutes remaining, MV found the decisive moment — a strong run down the line led to a ball played across the face of goal, where Colin Job (#14) finished cleanly to extend the lead to 3–1. From there, MV managed the final stages well. A late save by Jackson Whitacre (#1) in the closing minutes prevented any comeback momentum and effectively sealed the result.

In a playoff match defined by physicality, set pieces, and transition moments, Monte Vista’s aerial presence and composure in front of goal proved decisive.

Final Score: Monte Vista 3–1 San Ramon Valley