The Denair High boys soccer team – the two-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI champions – are in prime position to hang another banner this season.
The Coyotes are 17-5-2 overall and 8-1-2 in the Southern League after Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Gustine on Tuesday. With three games left in the regular season, Denair is one point behind Delhi (17-3-3, 9-0-3) in the SL standings and, perhaps more importantly, is far and away the presumptive No. 1 seed among Division VI schools with the playoffs beginning Feb. 9.
“They’re playing very good,” said Denair Coach Antonio Padilla. “I’m very happy. They’re having fun. We’re looking forward to the playoffs.”
The win over Gustine was Denair’s sixth in its past eight matches since a 3-2 non-league loss to Turlock before Christmas. The only times the Coyotes didn’t win they played to 1-1 ties against Gustine and Delhi.
The Jan. 19 match against Delhi could have gone either way. The Hawks led 1-0 at halftime before Denair’s Goliath Padilla tied the score with a goal midway through the second half. The Coyotes threatened again later in the game, but Diego Padilla hit the post with a shot.
“We controlled most of the game,” Antonio Padilla said. “We just ran out of time.”
Goliath Padilla, a sophomore, leads the team with 31 goals and 15 assists. His older brother Diego, a senior, has 13 goals. Another senior, Justin Hernandez, has six goals, including two in Tuesday’s win over Gustine. Senior goalie Sergio Torres also has had a strong year, highlighted by stopping three penalty kicks and posting five shutouts.
Denair’s latest victory did come with a cost, however. Diego Padilla strained his right hip flexor and could be sidelined until the playoffs.
“At the end of the day, we are a team. I told the boys that we could still do it,” said Antonio Padilla. “I need Diego to rest and be ready for the playoffs.”
Denair finishes the regular season with three away matches – Friday at Waterford (11-9-1, 6-5-1), Monday at Ripon Christian (6-12-3, 3-6-2) and Tuesday at Orestimba (13-8-4, 7-1-3). The Orestimba game was postponed from Jan. 23 because of a wet field.
Playing on back-to-back days the same week the playoffs begin isn’t Padilla’s preference, but it “doesn’t always go the way you want.”
The playoff pairings will be announced Wednesday and, unless they stumble, the Coyotes appear to be in line for the No. 1 seed. In the current rankings on MaxPreps, Denair is first, followed by Esparto (9-6-1), Bradshaw Christian (9-8) of Sacramento and Delta Charter (6-3-1) of Tracy. Ripon Christian — Denair’s opponent Monday – is ranked fifth. The other top SL schools – Delhi, Orestimba and Gustine – all are in Division V.
“The next three games mean something for league and playoff seeding,” Padilla said. “We’re only one point behind Delhi in league; if they tie or lose, we could win league. We’ll see how it goes.”
