Two SLO County soccer teams lose CIF title games — but one is still headed to state
Nipomo High School’s student fans were boisterous and ready to explode with cheers if the Titans could muster a goal in a CIF Central Section boys Division 5 soccer final match on Wednesday.
A win would have awarded Nipomo its first ever CIF Central Section title, and the fans came out to witness history.
Some close calls resulted in some lamenting groans from the home supporters. There was a shot over the cross bar, a deflection just wide of the net and several hopeful corner kicks that the visiting Granite Hills players defended well.
It wasn’t to be as the Grizzles from Porterville (13-10-2) won 2-0.
In Division 2 action, San Luis Obispo lost 2-1 in their final on the road versus Lindsay, but the Tigers will be moving on to the state tournament. For Nipomo, the season concluded.
Granite Hills, the No. 8 seed in Division 5, found the net early in the second half on a long-distance banger from senior forward Fabian “Fabi” Ruiz for the game’s first goal.
An insurance goal by Granite Hills’ senior midfielder Carlos Zavala, who navigated through a couple of Titans defenders to punch in a low shot, put the Grizzlies up 2-0 with about 13 minutes left in the game.
A frenetic finish with No. 3-seeded Nipomo trying to close the gap resulted in no more scoring.
But Nipomo (13-7-4, 7-0-1 Ocean League) still had plenty to be proud of after winning 10 games and tying two of its last 12 coming in and capturing the league title, according to players and Coach Adrian Dalton.
“Our program in history, we we haven’t been known as a good team in the area, and I think this year we proved that we were able to take on teams, especially from the (Central) Valley and outside of our local region,” said junior defender Noah Krebs. “Next year we’ll be back.”
Program success
Nipomo will lose four seniors next season, including top goal scorer Juan Diego Zarate who pulled his shirt over his head in agony after the second goal was scored against the Titans.
Zarate averaged nearly a goal per game, tallying 21 on the season in 24 overall games.
“It was a tough loss,” Zarate said. “We couldn’t pull through. I’m still proud of my team. I’m so proud of how far we made it, and I wouldn’t want to do with any other team but this one.”
Zarate said the team grew closer as the season went on, which helped Nipomo’s success.
“At first, we were not really seeing eye to eye,” Zarate said. “But throughout the season, we really all came together as one and bonded as a team outside of school, outside of practice. It really helped.”
Zarate said he relied on confidence and letting shots fly with good opportunities to score.
“Having confidence was really the main key,” Zarate said. “ You can’t go into a game feeling insecure. ... I really like using my pace and whenever I have a shot, or whenever I see the keeper, I honestly just shoot it.”
For the final, Nipomo was faced without two of its better players in junior striker Chase Myers, who had tallied nine goals and Kayson Jett, who had four goals. Fouls in the previous playoff game disqualified Myers and Jett from the final.
“They definitely would have helped,” Krebs said. “It’s hard being down a couple of bodies. ... I think we’re going to be strong in the next couple years.”
Nipomo’s Casey Lemus, a sophomore, notched six goals and junior Sebastian Zarate had five during the 2024-25 campaign.
Season finale
Dalton said that despite the loss in the title game, it was a “a really fun game to watch.”
“It was heartbreaking at the end,” Dalton said. “The banger first goal kind of set us back a little bit in terms of being engaged and being able to push forward with that energy. It’s tough in a game like that when you lose a little bit of momentum.”
Dalton said his team worked “so hard and I’m super proud of them.”
“We’ve been at this for a long time, and got to the finals for the first time in the school history,” he said.
On the other side of the field, Granite Hills celebrated with big smiles and lots of pictures from parents and supporters.
“At first, I didn’t think it was going to go in,” said Ruiz of his shot from well beyond the penalty box. “It was kind of far. I couldn’t see the ball hit the net, but I just saw the net move and then everyone started screaming.”
Ruiz said that during the course of the season, Granite Hills has had to push through a “lot of injuries.”
“That messed us up, but that didn’t matter,” Ruiz said. “The playoffs matter.”
Nipomo beat St. Joseph 4-2, McFarland 2-1 and Avenal in a 3-2 shootout after a scoreless tie ended the game in regulation in the playoff games leading up to the final.
Lindsay 2, San Luis Obispo 1
The No. 10 Tigers (12-7-3) and No. 1 Cardinals (26-1-3) were knotted at 1-1 at halftime.
SLO’s Kaleb Mantilla scored the first goal off of an assist from Jack Dunning, said SLO Coach Neal Hetzel.
But Lindsay came away with the victory and continued its strong run during the course of the season.
“We did qualify for state playoffs and will play our first game next Wednesday,” Hetzel said. “We’re waiting for the bracket this Sunday.”
Junior Aiden Dillinger leads the Tigers with 16 goals on the season. Senior Alex Ochoa has tallied six.
San Luis Obispo’s girls team takes on Liberty in the Division 1 final on Thursday on the road.
The Tigers (19-2-4, 6-1-3 Mountain) are led in scoring by Zoe Minnery with 16 goals and Addison Crosno with 13 goals.
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 10:33 PM.
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