CIFSDS Boys Soccer: Helix-Monte Vista III

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 22, 2025

2024-25 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS SOCCER
CIF=SAN DIEGO SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS

East County Sports staff report

Quarterfinals

SPRING VALLEY – A berth to the CIF-San Diego Section championship game in Division 2 boys soccer will be on the line when a pair of Grossmont Hills League squads collide.

On Wednesday (Feb. 26), Helix hits the road to meet Monte Vista in a massive revenge situation. First kick from Monarchs Stadium is sladed for 7 p.m.

Monte Vista, the defending CIFSDS champions in Division 3, advanced with another late burst of offense, scoring twice in the second half to trounce host San Marcos, 2-0, at the Knights Realm.

Helix also took a narrow road decision, finishing the game with a “cean sheet: (a scoreless draw) at University City, but took the penalty kick shootout over the Centurions, 4-1.

Meanwhuile in the upper bracket, top-sseded Mission Hill, which blanked San Ysidro, 2-0,will host Pacific Ridge in the semifinals. The No. 5 Firebirds pulled off a minior upset by topping No. 4 Rancho buena Vista, 3-2.

Series History

Entering the season, if the topic of Helix against Monte Vista came up, most everybody would points to the Highlanders as the side of choice.

The Scotties posted wins in 13 of their previous 16 meetings with the Monarchs, with two other contests finishing in draws.

However, Monte Vista’s 1-13-2 mark was thrown away this season, with the Monarfchs sweeping the two-match series, including a 1-0 win in the regular season finale to gain a share of the GHL title with Steele Canyon, and sending Helix down into third place.

You need to go back more than 14 years for the last time Monte Vista beat Helix: 2-1 in January 2011.

Plus, the season-series sweep by the Monarchs was their first over Helix since 2004-05.

Game Highlights

Monte Vista 2, San Marcos 0

SAN MARCOS – At the “Knights Realm,” second-half goals by sophomore Benji Salazar and senior Antony Lillo Granger keyed the offense, while a pair of goalkeeps shared the shutout.

Helix 0, at University City 0 (Helix wins on PKs, 4-1)

UNIVERSITY CITY – Following a scoreless draw, the Helix goalkeeper stopped two of the first three shots by the Centurions in the penalty kick shootout to post the surprising road triumph.

First Round

Monte Vista 2, Vista 1

VISTA – No matter how smart coaches may be, sometimes don’t always work out. But not in the case of the Monte Vista Monarchs.

After Grossmont Hills League coaches awarded the circuit’s top seed to Steele Canyon in snapping its deadlock fore first place with Monte Vista, things didn’t work out well for the Cougars.

However, everything turned out to be fantastic for the Monarchs.

Despite holding a higher seed, the Avocado League elexted an invitation to break-up its tie for the top spot by making Vista the “designated” champion over Canyon Crest, giving the Panthers an automatic home game in the first round of the playoffs.

No matter.

Monte Vista rallied with a pair of late goals by team captain Abdiel Espinoza Castillo, stopping host Vista 2-1, in Wednesday’s (Feb/ 19) Division 2 first-round contest at Dick Haines Memorial Stadium.

Meanwhile, Steele Canyon was awarded its own home game despite being the No. 9 seed, but visiting Bonita Vista (the No. 9 seed) took a 1-0 decision.

Game stuff

Following a scoreless opening half, Monte Vista trailed at the midway point of the second half on a Vista goal via penalty kick. But the final 20 minutes belonged to the Monarchs

In the 71st minute on a driven ball into the box from sophomore Daniel Baca, Espinoza Castillo tallied the equalizer.

Espinoza Castillo, this season’s GHL player of the yyear, finished with his left foot

Then with overtime looming, Espinoza Castillo surprised the Panthers fullbacks by not taking a shot, instead feeding the ball to fellow senior Anthony Lillo/

Lillo plucked the loose ball from the goalkeeper in the box, sending it back to Espinoza Castillo for his second consecutive game winner. He also scored the decisive goal to top Helix, 1-0, in the regular season finale to gain a share of the GHL championship.

More good news came from elsewhere in North County, as third-seeded Poway was stunned by No. 14 San Marcos, 3-1.

Thus, Monte Vista will host the Knights in the D-2 quarterfinals on Friday (Feb. 21) at 7 p.m.

Helix 3, Coronado 0

LA MESA – The Helix Highlanders leaps from off the mat after not winning the GHL crown by smashing Coronado, 3-0, to give Helix a sweep in Wednesday’s (Feb. 20) girls/boys CIF doubleheadser at Benton Hart Stadium.

The Scotties will next travel to No. 2 University City, which barely survivded in a shootout over La Jolla Country Day on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw.

Should Monte Vista and Helix both win, they would meet in next week’s CIF semifinals at Monarchs Stadium.