Prep Soccer: Poway High boys and girls face Rancho Bernardo Friday
The Rancho Bernardo High girls soccer team did not just end its losing streak to Poway last season, it completely turned the tables on the Titans.
The Broncos had not beaten Poway since 2010 before taking three games off their rival last season.
The Titans are hoping to end that skid Friday, when they host Rancho Bernardo at 7 p.m. in the first of two Palomar League meetings with the Broncos.
“Beating Westview for the first time in school history and then beating Poway twice in league was really a turning point for us last year,” Rancho Bernardo girls soccer coach Mark Sidebottom said. “But every game is different and it should be another good game on Friday.”
And a meaningful one.
The Broncos (5-4-5, 2-0-1) are alone in first-place with seven points. Poway (8-4-1, 1-2-0) has three points and is in fifth place. The Titans, who fell to Torrey Pines 1-0 Wednesday, are in need of a victory to keep their league championship hopes within reach.
“This week is a game changer for us,” Poway coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen said. “We have two huge games ... I feel like this is a make or break week for us.”
The Titans saw their unbeaten streak snap at nine games after losing 3-1 to Canyon Crest Academy last week and now have lost two straight. Poway has been led by sophomore Janelle Bernal, who has six goals on the season.
Both the Titans and Broncos have several scoring threats, though. Poway has 10 different players with at least one goal, while the Broncos have seven. That is much different from last season for Rancho Bernardo, who often relied on the graduated Tara Meier to score.
“That was a big hole for us to fill,” Sidebottom said. “We have had some players really step it up.”
Boys: The Poway boys soccer team has won five straight and seven of the last eight against rival Rancho Bernardo. The two will meet Friday at Poway High at 5:15 p.m. in a Palomar League battle.
The last time the Broncos beat the Titans was in 2012. Poway dominated that game, but Rancho Bernardo scored the lone goal of the match in the 80th minute to win 1-0, despite being outshot 29-4.
The Broncos would gladly take that result again after losing 1-0 and 3-1 last season. Rancho Bernardo has been playing like a team with a chance to take out the Titans this time around.
The Broncos are 10-3-2 and have six points in the Palomar League. Jason Lindberg has a team-leading eight goals, while freshman Matt Araiza has five and sophomore Michael Moroz has four.
Meanwhile, Poway (11-4-2, 1-2-0) has shown it can be one of the top teams in the county but it has struggled in the last two games. The Titans were stunned 3-1 by Canyon Crest Academy last week and then were blanked 3-0 by Torrey Pines Wednesday.
Kellen Gallagher and Berry are tied for the team lead with eight goals. Ian Hayne has six scores this year for the Titans.