Napa Valley College's Men Soccer Team Surges Into First Place In Bay Valley Conference

Press release from Napa Valley College:

October 18, 2021

A week or so ago, Napa Valley College men’s soccer coach Rogelio Ochoa was talking about the importance of upcoming Bay Valley Conference matches on the schedule against Yuba College-Marysville and College of Marin-Kentfield.

He called the week of October 11-15 both difficult and critical for the Storm. Ochoa also pointed out that the week was “going to shape the rest of the season and the rest of the conference” season.

It was a big week, indeed, for Napa Valley, with the Storm picking up two wins and surging to the top of the Bay Valley standings.

Midfielder Emmanuel Duran’s second-half goal, coming in the 80th minute, lifted Napa Valley on Tuesday, October 12 to a 1-0 win over Yuba, which at the time was in first place. Duran connected from 25 yards out, with the shot finding the bottom left corner. Josiah Gutierrez, a left wing, was credited with the assist.

The Storm extended its win streak to five in a row, as it scored two early goals in the first half and beat Marin, 3-1, on Friday, October 15.

Diego Moya, a midfielder, scored Napa Valley’s first goal on a breakaway at the 10-minute mark, with the assist going to Yahir Escalona, a midfielder. The goal gave the Storm a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later, the Storm scored again, this time Duran finding the net on an assist from Billy Biondi, a striker, as Napa Valley increased its lead to 2-0.

Napa Valley scored its third and final goal of the game with two minutes to go in the second half. The goal came from Christopher Hernandez, a midfielder, on an assist from Marco Manzo, a midfielder.

“To get two positive results, against Yuba on Tuesday and today against Marin, it’s just massive,” said Ochoa.

This press release was produced by Napa Valley College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.