Paso Robles preparing for D2 postseason
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Bearcats hosted first-place San Luis Obispo on Wednesday for senior night but could not pull out the upset victory over the 15-2-2 Tigers who are a perfect 8-0 in the Mountain League, falling 5-1.
Wednesday night Paso Robles announced the names of 12 seniors — Santiago Morfin, Evan Cody, Sergio Hernandez, Alfredo Moreno, Roberto Jimenez, Martin Augliar, Jorge Sandoval, Daniel Almaguer, Bryan Jimenez, Erik Zavala, Aristides Sanchez and Jesus Rico-Toscana — who wore their crimson uniforms at War Memorial for the final time in a regular season game.
“It is a good set of boys,” head soccer coach Omar McPherson said. “A lot of them are going to move on to do some real amazing things. I am looking forward to what they are going to produce.”
The Bearcats have split their last two games, winning against Pioneer Valley 5-3 on Friday but could not generate enough offense against the Tigers who are looking to be one of the top teams in the state and are the no. 2 team in Division 1, according to Maxpreps.com.
Overall, Paso Robles is 9-8-3 on the season and 2-5-1 in the Mountain League. However, the Mountain League is one of, if not the top, league in the Central Section as it can boast the no. 1 and no. 2 ranked teams in Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo. While the Bearcats play against SLO, Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande (who is also D1) they are in Division 2 where they are ranked No. 10.
“No excuses though,” McPherson says about being 2-5-1 in the brutal Mountain League. “We expected to win and do a little bit better than we have done this year. We have had some tough games to lose. We have had four overtime games and two of them went to [penalty kicks]. So, we are playing and are up there with those other teams.”
In order to go to the playoffs, the Bearcats will need to finish over .500 for their overall record on the season, meaning they will need to win at least one of their two remaining games on the schedule, both on the road. Friday, Paso Robles will look to avenge their overtime loss to Arroyo Grande on Jan. 17 and next Tuesday they will wrap up their regular season against 3-17 Righetti.
In the Division 2 playoffs, the Bearcats could face some familiar local opponents like fellow Mountain League foe Pioneer Valley who is 12-5-2 overall and ranked fourth in Division 2. Paso Robles could also potentially face the rival Greyhounds in the CIF Central Section playoffs, who are also in Division 2.
