Del Norte soccer opens season with wins against Calexico, San Clemente

David O’Rielly pondered the question about how good last year’s team was, not so much because it was difficult, but because he doesn’t like comparing one team or one year to another.

Finally, the only boys soccer coach Del Norte High has had in 17 years said this: 

“I’d say last year’s (2024-25) team was probably the best we’ve ever had,” said O’Rielly, but quickly adding, “and this year’s team has the ability to be even better.”

That 2024-25 club went 15-0-6 during the regular season and into the section Open Division championship game against St. Augustine.

Del Norte had a 1-0 lead against the Saints deep into the second half before St. Augustine scored to tie the game. Extra periods produced the same result, forcing penalty kicks, where the Nighthawks lost for the first time all season.

Their reward? A Southern California Regional playoff opener against unbeaten JSerra of San Juan Capistrano.

“That’s the best high school team I’ve ever seen,” O’Rielly said of the Lions, who not only beat the Nighthawks 4-0, but downed St. Augustine the next game by the same score and then finished off a 20-0-1 season with a 4-0 victory over Los Angeles Loyola for the title.

Of the 21 games, JSerra shut out 14 opponents.

That was a team after O’Rielly’s own heart, stressing defense and taking advantage when offensive opportunities came. Del Norte had given up just 17 goals in 21 games heading into the JSerra clash.

This despite their co-captains, Yasha Koshini (torn ACL) and Paulo Medeiras (hamstring) — two key midfielders — being out of the SoCal Championships with injuries.

“The key is to find a way to win, and St. Augustine found a way,” O’Rielly said. “I think we were the better team. We played so well against San Pasqual (a 1-0 overtime win) in the semis and against Torrey Pines (1-0 win and 3-3 tie). Those are Open Division teams and to get used to playing at that level, we always get the toughest schedule we can.”

An example came last week when Del Norte opened the season with a 4-1 victory over Calexico, a Division 1 finalist a year ago, and then came back with an impressive 2-1 victory over Southern power San Clemente on the road.

“We’re a high-energy team that is defensive-minded,” said O’Rielly, whose team has played in three straight Open Division championships. “Like a year ago, I expect us to have multiple players score goals.

“Shane Umansky scored twice and Jared Baza and Aria Toursavadkouhi once in the opener but one of our strengths is our depth. We have 25 players and they’re all capable of starting. We have a lot of 10-minute guys and we’ll make it happen by committee.”

Against San Clemente Colton Wuchner and Kai Wheeler scored.

O’Rielly believes this group could finish even better than last year because it is senior-laden, with 18 returnees from that group a year ago.

“We’re set up for success,” said the coach, “these guys want it more after last year. We don’t get a ton of kids who go on to play in college, but these guys are hard workers, and they want to play Del Norte soccer.

“That means we start with the defense.”

Indeed, the lone All-Section first team returnee, Wheeler, is the center fullback and O’Rielly says he brings everything you want in a strong defender.

“On the football team, he’d be the quarterback, he’s very well-respected,” he said. “He’s 5-foot-11 and very fast. He’s smart, composed and he doesn’t make mistakes.

“Again, on our team you start in back and it’s good to have a player like Kai back there.”

O’Rielly says he knows the Nighthawks, with their success, start the season with a target on their back, and he’s OK with that.

“You know, we can say all we want but in the end it’s all about the guys,” said O’Rielly. “They’re the players, they make it happen. I think they learned last year that you can never get complacent, that they have to keep fighting.

“There are a lot of variables in soccer and injuries are one you have no control over. But this is a very good group.”