SAN JOSE — Bellarmine boys soccer is nearly back on the Central Coast Section mountaintop.
The Bells, who have been a dynasty in the CCS for decades, had a down year in 2024, dropping off the map in the section and failing to even make the playoffs.
Those days are long gone. Bellarmine is moving on to the CCS Division I finals after a 2-0 win over Westmont, and the Bells aren’t done rewriting history on the way back to the top.
“Right when we made the team, we had a team meeting and we set out all of our goals,” said Bellarmine coach Conor Salcido. “And they had, ‘Win WCAL, win CCS and win NorCals.’ The fact that we’re one game away from two of those three is pretty awesome.”
Bellarmine’s Jason Gore (13) celebrates his goal against Westmont in the first half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
The Bells (17-2-3) hopped on top in the eighth minute thanks to a strike by Jason Gore, then sealed the deal with an insurance goal by Aiden Dempsey in the 75th minute.
“A lot of our guys, this is their first CCS experience,” Salcido said. “Last game was their first actual CCS game. Nerves are natural. Seeing a game out, especially against a well-coached Westmont team, is just tough. Our back line has been solid all year, and they’ve stepped up many, many times. The fact that we could see out a shutout against Westmont, who had a lot of talented players up front, when you have a defense you can trust, it just helps your offense play free.”
Now, Bellarmine is returning to Santa Clara University, just a quick jaunt down the road, for the CCS title match on Friday.
“I love these seniors. I really do,” Salcido said. “They’re a solid group. This is a fun group to coach, because when you ask them to do something, they do it. When we make adjustments at halftime, they do it. And when we ask them to start a game in a certain way, they’re very coachable. When you have a coachable group and they’re talented, it’s hard to stop you.”
Bellarmine’s starters huddle before the start of their game against Westmont for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Westmont coach Matt Schembri left impressed with what the Bells bring to the table. By virtue of reaching the semifinal round in Division I, the Warriors (15-5-1) will return to action in the NorCal tournament next week.
“Their midfield is so good on the ball, and defensively, they are organized,” Schembri said. “When you get a midfield that can play, and you get an organized defense, that’s a tough team to play against. And then they’re able to manufacture something out of nothing, because they play in tight spaces. That’s a good team, and I’ll be rooting for them in the final. We want to lose to the winner.”
Bellarmine’s Ben Sutton (19) heads the ball in front of Westmont’s Emiliano Duarte (11) in the first half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine’s Aidan Dempsey (6) consoles Westmont’s Spencer Hoang (3) after Bellarmine won 2-0 after their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine’s Leo Holt (14) heads the ball towards the goal against Westmont in the second half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Westmont’s Sebastien Aranda (7) controls the ball against Bellarmine in the first half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Westmont goalkeeper Kevin Pastrana (1) makes a save in front of Westmont’s Leonel Amaya (5) and Bellarmine’s Gregory Gutierrez (11) in the second half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine’s Thomas Dumont (7) fights for the ball against Westmont’s Spencer Hoang (3) in the second half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
MITTY GIRLS REACH CCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME YET AGAIN
SAN JOSE — Death, taxes and Archbishop Mitty girls soccer in the CCS championship game.
Certain things seem to be true every year, and Mitty advancing to the final is one of them. But the Monarchs had to work for this one.
Hosting St. Ignatius at home in San Jose, Mitty needed every bit of 80 minutes to fend off the Wildcats. With five seconds remaining before stoppage time in the second half, Monarchs star Murphy Walsh found the ball at her feet shortly after an SI turnover and took advantage.
Walsh’s shot deflected in off an SI defender, but at that point in the game, Mitty wasn’t picky. The elusive goal, which had been getting closer and closer late in the second half, clinched another trip to Santa Clara for the Monarchs’ program.
“We needed to score,” said Walsh, a USC signee. “We needed to get a goal, and we were gonna do whatever it took to get a goal. And we did. Keep up the pressure. Don’t let them have any room to breathe.”
Mitty (17-1-3) kept the intensity up throughout the game, never letting SI (10-7-5) feel fully comfortable. And when the Cats made a critical mistake with minutes remaining, the Monarchs were the ones that pounced.
“From a results standpoint, waiting that late in the game is not good for your cardiac health,” said Mitty coach JT Hanley. “But we had 19 shots, they had one. We had six corners, they had one. They defended really well, and they were super organized. But I never felt like we didn’t have a hold of the game. It was just that last pass or the last touch.
“And then frankly, Maddie (Lund) played her mind out of her mind in the goal for them. She had one of the best games I’ve seen by a goalkeeper in a playoff game in my memory, and without dating myself, that goes back a ways. So she played unbelievably well.”
St. Ignatius’ season will continue in the NorCal playoffs.
BOYS NOTABLES
CCS Division I
No. 3 Everett Alvarez 1, No. 2 Mountain View 1 (Alvarez wins 5-4 on PKs)
Mountain View played Salinas-based Alvarez to a dead heat at home on Tuesday and was 4 of 4 on penalty kicks to open the shootout after extra time. But the Spartans (17-1-4) opened the door by missing their fifth attempt, and Alvarez walked right through it into the CCS finals by converting in the final round. Alvarez advances to face Bellarmine at SCU at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
NCS Division II
No. 2 Granada 1, No. 3 Pittsburg 1 (Granada wins 5-4 on PKs)
Granada survived a round of penalty kicks to top Pittsburg in another tight contest requiring overtime on a day full of them around the Bay Area. The Matadors will host No. 4 Archie Williams for the D-II title on Friday. Williams knocked off top seed Cardinal Newman 2-1 on Tuesday.
GIRLS NOTABLES
CCS Division I
No. 1 St. Francis 4, No. 5 Leland 1
The Lancers (16-2-1) made quick work of Leland in Mountain View to punch a return ticket to Buck Shaw Field for the D-I championship game. St. Francis will face Mitty at 5 p.m.
Bellarmine goalkeeper Drew Mcclelland (88) makes a save against Westmont in the first half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine’s Dom Magana (12) controls the ball against Westmont’s Lazar Minic (16) in the second half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine goalkeeper Drew Mcclelland (88) blocks a shot in front of Westmont’s Spencer Hoang (3) in the first half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Westmont goalkeeper Kevin Pastrana (1) blocks a shot against Bellarmine’s Gregory Gutierrez (11) in the second half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Bellarmine’s Aidan Dempsey (6) celebrates his goal with teammates and students against Westmont in the second half for their CCS Division I boys soccer semifinal game at Bellarmine in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
