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A Challenging Path to CIF Playoffs in 2012

Pacific Lutheran soccer returns nine players from last season’s 2011 Mulholland League championship squad, and adds a similar number of new players for 2012. But the road back to the CIF playoffs presents a more challenging route this season as the Mulholland does not have enough teams for a league. So the Stingrays are ‘freelancing’ their schedule, and will need a .500 or better record for playoff consideration. That said, we think this group shows more speed and experience than last season’s CIF 2nd round side, and might win enough games to earn an automatic bid to the Southern Section playoffs. With an 18 game schedule ahead of them it would take 15 wins for that scenario to materialize – but consider the talent. The seniors alone on this team include All-Leaguers Matt Mengel, Breanna O’Malley, Saul De LaPaz, Daniel Negi and Erik Wallin. Add to this the speed and skill of David and Wilson Mayo, the toughness of Junior Marin and Bethany Ishii, and the experience of Shant Kalaydjian, Nathan Wallin and John Samah - and it’s fairly easy to envision the Stingrays making another trip to CIF. Newcomers battling for playing time in 2012 include Davis Rupp, Jacque Dewalt, Janelle Garcia, Peter and Julia Brown, David Caballero, Frank Yu and Daniel Cardona decked-out in the new black Stingray kits. Go Stingrays!!

'11-'12 Schedule