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Boys’ Soccer Dream Team: Sadeghi made Sage special

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Five weeks have passed since Nikolai Sadeghi played his final boys’ soccer match with Sage Hill School. The senior’s first contest was in early December.

Aside from having a new coach for the fourth time in as many years with the Lightning, the start of the season was nothing like the previous one for Sadeghi. The team was one match away last season from completing an unbeaten regular season.

Eight contests into this season, Sadeghi and Sage Hill were still in search of their first win. Sadeghi wasn’t around for a handful of those matches. A family trip to Cuba during the holiday break took him away from the field. He wasn’t the only player missing. With Sadeghi and other players not around, it affected the team.

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“In preseason we never had a complete team,” Sage Hill Coach Luis Cruz said in January. “These kids travel too much. There were games we played with three starters. It gave a lot of the younger kids an opportunity.

“The [older] boys … welcomed the younger boys and treated them with a lot of respect. It makes it a special group.”

When Sadeghi and the rest of the players returned in January, Sage Hill went on an unforgettable run. Never in Sadeghi’s wildest dreams did he believe Sage Hill would go from a winless team to one becoming the first in the program’s history to reach the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section playoffs and qualify for the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs.

Sadeghi, the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year in boys’ soccer, lifted the Lightning (16-11) to an unprecedented season. Sage Hill won 16 of its final 19 matches, and Sadeghi provided most of the scoring chances, recording 23 goals and 15 assists.

The numbers Sadeghi produced are staggering considering they came in 21 matches. While he played two more matches than in his junior year, when he finished with a Sage Hill single-season school record 26 goals, Sadeghi was an attacking midfielder during the regular season of his senior campaign.

After going 12-0 in Academy League play to complete Sage Hill’s first perfect league crown since the 2006-07 season, the playoffs rolled around. During this time, when it’s more difficult to find the back of the net, Cruz moved Sadeghi to striker. Sadeghi can give you 69 reasons why, 69 being the amount of goals he said he totaled in four seasons to set a Sage Hill career record.

In six postseason matches this past season, Sadeghi scored four goals, all proved to be monumental. His two-goal effort in a 3-0 win at home against No. 5-seeded Covina in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs allowed the Lightning to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009-10.

The following match at No. 4 Moreno Valley saw Sadeghi score once, helping Sage Hill force overtime. When no one scored to break a 2-2 tie during the two 10-minute overtimes, penalty kicks decided who moved on to the semifinals. Sadeghi converted his PK, as did teammates Dino Romeo, Anthony Gil and Juan Rodriguez. Moreno Valley was unable to keep up, and Sage Hill, which fell short in its past two quarterfinal appearances, won the shootout, 4-3, and punched its ticket to the semis.

The season wasn’t over when Sage Hill lost at No. 1 South Pasadena, 2-0, in the semifinals on March 3. Five days later, unbeknownst to Sadeghi, Sage Hill received a berth into the CIF Southern California Regional Division IV playoffs. In the gym, in front of the entire school, Sadeghi said he and his teammates found out about this when the school called up the team during a Monday morning town meeting.

Sadeghi, bummed about the setback costing him a chance to compete in the section final, was eager to play again. There was more soccer in store for Sadeghi before he had to figure out whether to attend the University of Michigan or Tufts University.

The news of another postseason was a pleasant surprise for Sadeghi, who was involved in another stunner the next day. Sadeghi made sure it benefited the Lightning again.

Sadeghi went against his coach’s wishes in the 25th minute, opting to score on his own on a free kick from about 25 yards out. He nailed the shot, and the goal stood up to upset San Diego Montgomery, 1-0, on the road. Sage Hill, in its first appearance on this stage, looked like it belonged, before losing at Coronado, 7-0, in the next round.

“Getting a second chance to bounce back in the [SoCal Regional], we knew that we had to go our hardest, especially after playing and losing to what we thought was a beatable South Pasadena team,” said Sadeghi, whose team was without Gordon Strelow, a key center back who sat out the semifinal because of a red card he picked up in the quarterfinals. “Even playing a [Montgomery] team that on paper probably should’ve beaten us, we came in [ready].

“Coach Cruz was really, really technical. He was definitely one of the best coaches I’ve had. I think he was a big factor [in our success]. Although I did expect great things for this team, I don’t think I could’ve expected what Cruz and the boys put together this year.”

Below are the rest of the players on this year’s Dream Team:

Evan Schwartz

MF | Corona del Mar

The senior holding midfielder was named the Pacific Coast League Offensive MVP. Schwartz, who produced eight goals and four assists, is off to UC Santa Barbara as part of one of the top recruiting classes.

Alan Alcantara

S | Newport Harbor

The senior striker is bound for UC Riverside after making the All-Sunset League first team again. Alcantara finished with eight goals, including a game-winner, and six assists. Alcantara is a three-time Dream Team pick.

Kevin Pizarro

S | Estancia

The junior striker battled an ankle injury throughout the season and still proved to be a threat. Pizarro, the Orange Coast League Offensive MVP, totaled 10 goals and two assists. Pizarro is a three-time Dream Team pick.

Zach Burns

CB | Sage Hill

The senior center back anchored Sage Hill’s best season. Burns led the team to its first CIF Southern Section semifinals appearance and first CIF Southern California Regional win. Burns was the Academy League MVP and an All-CIF selection.

Christian Monroy

CB | Estancia

The senior center back was durable, playing almost every minute. Monroy, an All-Orange Coast League first team selection, contributed to Estancia allowing only 19 goals in 22 matches. Monroy is a two-time Dream Team pick.

Marlon Nava

MF | Newport Harbor

The senior central midfielder showed his versatility and made his presence felt while playing in the back, the middle or up top. Nava, an All-Sunset League first-team member, recorded three goals and two assists.

Blake Munger

S | Corona del Mar

The junior striker bounced back after missing seven straight matches because of a concussion, recording five goals in his first match back. Munger, who tallied 13 goals for the season, garnered first-team All-Pacific Coast League laurels.

Gordon Strelow

CB | Sage Hill

The senior center back solidified Sage Hill as one of the top defenses. Strelow earned All-CIF Southern Section Division 6 and second-team All-Academy League honors after Sage Hill posted 13 shutouts in its last 19 matches.

Adan Rodriguez

MF | Estancia

The junior central midfielder possessed all the intangibles, making him the heart of the midfield at Estancia, which despite finishing 12-5-5 missed the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs, placing fourth in the tough Orange Coast League.

Robbie Rosoff

GK | Sage Hill

The junior goalkeeper delivered during Sage Hill’s first undefeated Academy League championship season since 2006-07, shutting out 10 of 12 league opponents. In the playoffs, Rosoff, a first-team All-Academy League pick, blanked three teams.

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