(Front page photo--Campolindo players: #6 Matt Reshke, #16 Timmy Coleman, #18 Jaison Kimura, #3 Harlan Raine, #25 Sam Palano; Acalanes players: #16 Austin Deback, #17, #21 Austen Grassin, #4 Adrian Chow-dane, #9 Cam Carda, #15 Max Omick) Photo Doug Kohen

Campolindo boys' soccer secured a number one seed in the NCS tournament and proved to be top dogs on Saturday, Feburary 26 in the NCS championship game. The Cougars defeated local rival Acalanes, the number two seed, 3-2.

The Cougars got on the board first early in the match. Timmy Coleman headed in a goal just five minutes into play. The Dons responded quickly as Nick Pereira put in a loose ball in the 11th minute. The Dons' Dan Glascock scored again with minutes remaining in the half to give Acalanes a 2-1 lead at the break.

The Dons' lost a player to a red card and gave the Cougars a key penalty kick. In the 46th minute, Jaison Kimura scored on the penalty to tie the game at two each. The Cougars put the game away, 3-2, in the 77th minute off a header from Harlan Raine.

"The win feels incredible; it's all surreal. To come back to my alma mater and lead an amazing group of guys to every title we could win is a feeling that I'll never forget. The way the boys came together as a team, and more importantly as a family, has truly been something special, and the team deserves everything we've accomplished," Cougars' head coach Shane Carney said.

Campolindo defeated John F. Kennedy of Fremont 4-0 in the first round, Ygnacio Valley 2-1 in the second round and Albany 5-0 in the semi finals to reach the championship. Acalanes defeated John F. Kennedy of Richmond 1-0 in the first round, Pinole Valley 1-0 in the second round and Dublin 6-0 in the semi-finals to reach the finals.

All three girls' teams qualified for the tournament. Campolindo drew a fourth seed but was upset in the first round by #13 Berean Christian, 1-2. #6 Miramonte hosted #11 Acalanes in the opening round and defeated the Dons'3-1. The Lady Mats lost in the second round to Piedmont in double overtime, 2-1. C. Graveson