By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

Coach Rogelio Ochoa called it a "complete team performance," as the host Napa Valley College men's soccer team picked up its second win of the 2023 season, beating a highly-ranked Merced College team, 2-1, in a nonconference match on Friday, Sept. 22

The play of the Storm's defense was exceptionally stellar. Jonah Segura, Angel Tapia, Ulisses Cruz and Octavio Castro keyed the Napa Valley defense.

"All four defenders did really well. They're the only players that played all 90 minutes," said Ochoa. "Everyone else got subbed out. The first line of defense and the midfield also did a great job. We rotated players properly so we can continue doing that at a high level. But the backline did a phenomenal job all game long."

Napa Valley (2-5 overall) held Merced to the one goal, that coming in the 85th minute of the second half.

"We're really locked in on the defensive side," said Ochoa. "We made it very difficult for the opponent to have any space and any passing lanes, just any type of penetration on the field, and it made them really uncomfortable and allowed us to stay in the game, and then also create good chances."

Merced (5-2-1 overall), which plays in the Central Valley Conference, came into the match No. 7 in the California Community College Sports Information Association Men's Soccer Poll, announced on Sept. 20, in a report, at www.cccaasports.org, by the California Community College Athletic Association.

The Storm scored its first goal, at the 30th minute of the first half. Justin Sotelo was fouled inside of the box. Jonah Segura scored on the penalty kick, giving Napa Valley a 1-0 lead.

Napa Valley increased its lead to 2-0, as Sotelo scored a goal at the 55th minute of the second half. The assist was credited to Gedeon Ilunga.

"It was a great way to finish the nonconference matches against a really strong opponent," said Ochoa. "We've been playing well, but the result hasn't always reflected that. I think this game we finally got a result that reflected how we're playing.

"It's going to definitely propel us for conference now and give us that little confidence boost, to keep going and keep doing what we're doing, continue trusting each other and our style of game and hopefully the results will come as well in conference."

Merced's goal came from Angel Sanchez. The assist went to Jahrie Gray and Elijah Reynaveld.

The Bay Valley Conference season for the Storm begins on Tuesday, Sept. 26, when they are home to face Mendocino College-Ukiah at 4 p.m.

Napa Valley won a fifth straight Bay Valley Conference title and advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association-Northern California Regional playoffs last year.

CCCSIA Men's Soccer Poll

Seven Northern California teams are listed in the California Community College Sports Information Association Men's Soccer Poll, announced on Sept. 20, in a report, at www.cccaasports.org, by the California Community College Athletic Association.

Evergreen Valley-San Jose, tied for No. 5, leads the NorCal teams.

Also in the poll: No. 7 Merced, tied for No. 9 Santa Rosa, No. 13 Skyline-San Bruno, tied for No. 15 Gavilan-Gilroy, No. 17 Las Positas-Livermore, tied for No. 18 Cabrillo-Aptos.

Among those listed as "others" includes De Anza-Cupertino, Hartnell-Salinas, City College of San Francisco, Cosumnes River-Sacramento, San Joaquin Delta-Stockton, Folsom Lake, Foothill-Los Altos Hills, West Valley-Saratoga, Modesto.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.