Calvary Chapel Downey’s Gerry Carrillo (14) executes a bicycle kick towards the goal against Southlands Christian in their Express League boys soccer game at Tzu Chi Academy in Walnut on Wednesday. Calvary Chapel Downey defeated Southlands Christian 5-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

WALNUT – For the first time in 15 years, the Calvary Chapel Downey High School boys soccer team has claimed the Express League Championship with a 5-1 win over host Southlands Christian Wednesday (January 29) at the Tzu Chi Educational Academy in Walnut.

The Grizzlies, who improved to 8-3-1 overall and 5-0 in league, last won a Delphic League title in 2009 with a 9-1 record.

“At first we were trying to get the tempo of the game, but we put away a couple of goals to secure the game in the first half,” Calvary first-year coach Neftali Carrera said. “We tried to stay on top of them and didn’t let them breathe and we got the result we wanted.

“Our guys are resilient and want to win just as much as I do. (Wednesday) I told (the team) no excuses and play your game and go 100 percent and give it everything you can.”

Carrera, who played soccer and graduated from Calvary and is in his fourth year with the program, said of his team, “I’m proud of these guys. I’ve seen these guys grow up these past four years and develop.”

With the loss, Southlands dropped to 5-12 overall and 3-2 in league.

With one game remaining in the regular season, Calvary Chapel has a chance to finish as undefeated champions for the first time since the 2005 season.

The Grizzlies will play their final game at Vista Meridian High School (0-8, 0-4) in Santa Ana for the chance to finish as undefeated champs.

Leading the way for Calvary Chapel was striker Gerry Carrillo with three goals (6 shots). The junior has amassed 29 goals so far this season and scored his second consecutive hat trick in the last two games.

The second leading scorer on the team is junior wing Matthew Avila with 16 goals.

“I’m really proud of our group of boys,” Calvary Chapel Downey Assistant Athletic Director Nathan Tachin said. “They came together this year as a team and they had a goal to win league and with the big win this week, they accomplished that.

“The last time our boys soccer team won a league championship was back in 2009, so I’m happy for them and for our alumni coach, Neftali Carrera, who came in and not only helped these boys develop and refine their soccer skills, but also helped them grow as young men of God.”

With the title and their overall record, the Grizzlies will continue the season in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, which will begin the second week of February.

Brackets will be announced Saturday February 8 on the CIF website.

The last time they played in the postseason was the 2018-’19 season. They lost to St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy in the first round.

The win over Southlands Christian was the second in two consecutive days, as the Grizzlies won 4-3 on Tuesday (Jan. 28).

In the 4-3 win over Southlands on Tuesday, Carrillo scored three goals, and senior midfielder Daniel Carias scored the fourth goal.

The Grizzlies led, 3-0, in the first half, but Southlands scored three second-half goals to tie the game, 3-3. With less than 15 minutes left in the game, Carrillo took a through pass from junior right wing Matthew Avila and scored the go-ahead goal to lead, 4-3.

“In (Wednesday’s) game we came in more confident than (Tuesday’s) and just wanted to win more,” Carrillo said. “I did score three and tried to hit a bicycle (shot) and did my best.

“Confidence plays a major part and confidence in my teammates and trusting them to make the right runs and right passes. Matthew (Avila), Joan Restrepo and also Danny Carias gave me a lot of good balls.”

“I scored the first one to get the team up and motivated,” said Avila of the early goal. “We came in the second half ready to play.

“At the end of the day we’re happy we won league. I’m just happy, because I’ve been playing since my freshman year. We’ve pulled through this year.

“I’m proud of everybody, especially our center back Joseph (Henriquez). I’m just proud of everybody. Props to my mom and dad and the (win) is what matters the most.”

In Wednesday’s game after the Grizzlies took complete control of the ball in the early going, Avila gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on a cross by freshman left wing Ayomide Akinbile. From outside the box, Avila scored in the left corner on a long shot.

For the second goal of the half, senior left back Uriel Munoz found Carrillo on a breakaway in the 15th minute to lead 2-0.

A few minutes later, Restrepo just missed a goal as his left-footed shot sailed just over the top of the goal.

In the 23rd minute, a long free kick by Restrepo was stopped by Southlands goalie Andreus Sandoval, but Carrillo was in the right place at the right time as he hit the ball in the goal after it was dropped by the goalie for the 3-0 lead.

Carrillo completed his hat trick with a hard long shot that bounced past the goalie in the 29th minute. Restrepo assisted on the play that gave the Grizzlies a commanding 4-0 lead on their way to a league title.

With little action between the pipes for Calvary goalie Edgar Talamantes (7 saves in the game), the junior came way out of the net in the 36th minute to kick away a shot.

Four minutes later, Southlands came the closest to a goal in the first half, but the ball hit the top of the goal.

Carrillo had two yellow cards in the second half which resulted in a red card, but the Grizzlies defense, led by seniors Elijah Pena and Munoz and sophomore Alejandro Villareal kept the pressure up throughout the game.

Early in the second half, Restrepo gave the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead on a penalty shot.

The Eagles broke the shutout with a goal later in the half, to trail, 5-1.

Calvary Chapel boys soccer wins first league championship since 2009