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CVs new varsity boys soccer team looks to keep playoff, league title streaks alive
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Defender Custodio Vasquez and Central Valley High Schools varsity boys soccer team will compete at the Pitman tournament on Friday in Turlock. Vasquez, one of the Hawks top returning players from a season ago, will contribute on defense. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Central Valley High School's varsity boys soccer team has been a model of consistency under head coach Omar Leon's guidance.

The Hawks qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section finals for the fourth time in five years, totaled a program-best 26 wins with just two losses, won their sixth straight league title and participated in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year in 2013.

Central Valley will open the 2014 season at the Pitman tournament this Friday.

The new-look Hawks will try to place first at the Turlock event for the fourth year in a row.

Central Valley will compete with a revamped roster as star players Ozzie Ramos, Omar Orozco and Anthony Calvo were lost to graduation.

Ramos, a freshman player at San Diego State, tallied 31 goals and 29 assists during his final season with the Hawks.

Orozco set a program record for goals in a single season (47) and also dished out 11 assists.

Calvo collected 29 assists and six goals.

"The expectations are the same but we have a different group of kids," Leon said. "There's always talent at Central Valley. This is the third cycle. Every player is motivated."

The Hawks' top returners are Jesus Mendoza (Sr.), Custodio Vasquez (Sr.), Victor Yepez (Sr.), Angel Aguilar (So.), Adrian Calvo (So.) and Angel Lopez (So.).

Mendoza, a central defender, was named to the Western Athletic Conference Second Team his junior year.

Newcomers expected to contribute include Erick Espindola (So.), Jacob Guerrero (So.), Jose Yepez (Jr.) and Gerardo Enrique (Sr.).

Erick, Jacob and Jose played for the 2013 WAC-champion JV Hawks last season. Central Valley defended its league title.

Central Valley's varsity program will be vying for its seventh consecutive conference crown and eighth straight postseason appearance this year.

The Hawks reeled off a program-record 20 straight wins prior to being upset 3-2 by Christian Brothers in the 2013 section title game.

"We had 80 players trying out for both levels," Leon said. "We had so much talent to choose from. The kids know the expectations are going to be very high. They've been working really hard. They're very motivated. They're up for the challenge."