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CV boys soccer aims to maintain its winning tradition
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Central Valley High Schools varsity boys soccer program returns a handful of talent from last years team, including second-team Western Athletic Conference selection Angel Lopez. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Expectations are always high for Central Valley High School's varsity boys soccer program.

"The only thing we haven't won is sections," Hawks head coach Omar Leon.

Central Valley has advanced to the section finals four times, qualified for the playoffs eight years in a row and captured six conference titles under Leon's guidance.

The Hawks will be vying for their ninth straight postseason berth this fall.

"We set the bar really high," Leon said.

Central Valley's top newcomers are Angel Aguilar (Sr.), Angel Lopez (Jr.), Cristian Guerrero (Sr.), Adrian Calvo (Jr.), Giovanni Avalos (Sr.) and Robert Perez (Sr.).

Aguilar and Lopez both earned second-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors last season.

Aguilar had six goals and two assists.

Lopez collected five goals and two assists.

Central Valley's top newcomers are Andres Velasquez (Jr.) and Enrique Garcia (Jr.).

Velasquez played varsity soccer at Ceres High his sophomore year.

Garcia transferred from East Union.

"He (Andres) plays competitive soccer with some of the kids from CV," Leon said. "He's such a talented kid. If he was eligible right now, he'd be one of our starting forwards based on what he's shown at practice."

Central Valley accumulated seven wins, no losses and five ties en route to a runner-up finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings last fall.

The Hawks compiled a 16-2-8 overall record.

Central Valley fell one victory shy of advancing to its fifth section-title game.

The Hawks placed second in 2013, 2012, 2010 and 2009.

Central Valley won six straight conference titles from 2008-13.

"There's not a huge gap between the teams in our conference," Leon said. "Every single team is competitive. That's why the CIF is giving us an extra playoff berth."