RB Boys Take Soccer Title Over Torrey Pines, 4-3

After falling 1-0 in the championship game to San Pasqual last year, the Bernardo High boys soccer team didn't want to experience the same disappointment this time around.

Reed McKenna made sure they wouldn't, scoring three goals, including a penalty kick conversion with two minutes left to lift the Broncos over Torrey Pines 4-3 in Saturday's Division I game at Westview High. It was RB's first boys soccer title, and in all the excitement, the players did a dogpile on their CIF plaque, damaging it. No problem. It can be repaired.

"This group of seniors really stepped up and are so deserving of this," Broncos coach Kurt Trecker said. "It feels great. It's no fun to lose in the finals, and I didn't want to go through that again.

"I'm proud that we continued to fight all year. It's really sweet for our boys."

Sean Doyle scored for the Falcons in the 16th minute to put RB in a hole, but Ethan Story brought the second-seeded Broncos (17-5-1) even with a goal in the 27th minute. McKenna then added his first two goals later in the half to give RB a 3-1 lead at intermission.

Torrey Pines (13-8-5) closed the gap when Garrett Heine scored on a corner kick five minutes into the second half, and when Robert Matsuura converted with 13 minutes remaining, the game was tied.

 An obvious trip in the box with two minutes left gave McKenna his chance to get the game-winner. He had Torrey Pines goalkeeper Dean Metz diving to his left but rocketed his shot in the other direction.

"It feels great to score three goals and help my team win the game," said McKenna. "I wanted to keep our season going." It will, since the Broncos advance to the Southern California Regionals. Pairings will be announced late Sunday.

"This year I felt that every game could be my game," added McKenna, who will enroll at UCLA in the fall. "This was a reflection of all the hard work I've put into soccer."