The James Logan Courier

By Justyna Torres, Courier School News Editor

With three games left in MVAL, the James Logan Varsity soccer team hopes to take turn their second place spot into an MVAL Championship, then an NCS Championship.

“This season has been up and down, but overall good,” said head coach James Williams said. “The team continues to improve and build toward NCS.”

This may not be an impossible feat for the team this year. They have an impressive overall record with 11 wins, five losses and two ties. In the league they are 6-1, with their only loss to the league's first place team, Newark Memorial High School.

The team also holds a number of adept players on the team. Senior Alex Valdovinos has saved 23 goals this season. More than ten players have scored goals this year, making their total number of goals 41. Senior Gustavo Ulloa, a forward for the team, has scored 15 of those goals for Logan, placing him in second place for top scorers in the entire East Bay.

Ulloa said about his second place standing, “I feel pretty good about the 15 goals I have. Being in second place isn’t an easy thing. I couldn’t have done it without the help and hard work of my
teammates and coaches.”

One of the most exciting and memorable games of the season was the Logan vs. Newark game, which put the two teams against each other in competition for first place in MVAL. The game was tough and physical, and many warning cards were given to players on both teams. The game came down to a controversial call, giving Newark a penalty kick in which they scored the only goal of the game. Newark won 1-0, but Logan was not discouraged; instead they look forward to the rematch at home on February 4th at 6 p.m. Once again they will be playing for the first place title in MVAL and a bid into NCS playoffs.

The overall feeling of the team is optimistic and they definitely have their eyes on the titles.

Valdovinos said, “I definitely concentrate on my team goal—which is to win MVAL and NCS—because I know we can all do it.”

This common goal is reiterated by many members of the team.

Senior Juan Alvarado, second year captain, believes that this goal is obtainable mostly because “Williams has put in a lot of effort to make us a united team.”

Alvarado continued: “We are not just a team—we are a family. This year we have not only the talent, but the chemistry as well to play well.”

Can’t-miss games are this Friday, February 4th, against Newark Memorial for the title, and Senior Night on February 9th. Come and support Logan's varsity soccer team in their goal of winning the MVAL
title.