For a program that had fallen in the quarterfinals and semifinals the past two seasons, this year’s Central Coast Section (CCS) run felt different.
This time, Del Mar finished it.
On Saturday night at Del Mar High School, the Dons defeated Christopher High School 0–0 (5–3 in penalties) to win the first CCS championship in program history. It was Del Mar’s third CCS final appearance — and its first title — and it sends the Dons to the CIF Division IV State Playoffs for the first time. They will host Pittsburg High School on Tuesday, March 3.
The road demanded composure and growth.
Round One: Responding Under Pressure
Del Mar opened the CCS Division III playoffs by avenging an earlier 4–1 loss to Santa Clara with a 2–1 win that tested its maturity.
After a Santa Clara turnover, Adrien Fuentes played a long ball over the top that found Nico Collins in stride. Collins chipped the keeper to give Del Mar the early lead.
“I think I heard him yelling,” Fuentes said. “I just kind of played it over the top, and he got there and scored.”
Collins made it count again minutes later. After winning a contested ball at midfield, he drove nearly 40 yards down the right sideline and slipped a centering pass to Damian Padilla, who finished to make it 2–0.
“I think the biggest thing for me was just get the ball, turn up, and dribble,” Collins said. “When I realized I couldn’t get in front of him, I looked up and saw Damian trailing.”
The match shifted after two red cards forced Del Mar to finish shorthanded. Santa Clara cut the lead in the second half after a turnover, but the Dons held firm.
Luis Mendoza’s pressing helped maintain control late.
“That’s just something I feel like I’ve always done,” Mendoza said. “I just like to win the ball.”
The win marked visible growth.
“We lost to Santa Clara the first time, 4–1,” Fuentes said. “Then in the playoffs, we beat them.”
Round Two: Redemption Against Monterey
The semifinals brought familiar history.
Monterey — the same team that eliminated Del Mar two years ago — arrived fresh off an upset of No. 2 Burlingame. This time, Del Mar controlled the match.
After a scoreless first half that included a Collins header off the crossbar and a blocked rebound from Mendoza, the breakthrough came three minutes into the second half. Patrick Fought was pushed from behind in the box, earning a penalty that Javier Rocha converted for a 1–0 lead.
Collins extended the advantage minutes later, chesting down a ball near the top of the box, slipping past a defender and finishing low inside the right post.
Marco Apolinario added the third in the 74th minute, volleying home a rebound after his initial attempt was saved.
“I would say our mentality,” Apolinario said of the second-half surge. “We came out there and we gave it our all.”
Goalkeeper Alex Kahn preserved the clean sheet with a key second-half foot save that denied Monterey’s best chance to respond.
The 3–0 result sent Del Mar to the final for the third time in program history.
The Final: Composure Over 100 Minutes
Against Christopher, Del Mar controlled possession and generated chances but could not find a breakthrough in 80 minutes of regulation or 20 minutes of extra time.
Christopher remained compact defensively.
“They stayed organized and disciplined,” head coach Brandon Cedillo said. “At halftime, I told our guys to stay patient. The chances were coming — we just needed to stay sharp, move the ball quicker, and trust that the breakthrough would come.”
In first-half stoppage time, Collins sprinted free for a shot that missed high. In the second half, Rocha’s header off a set piece was saved, and multiple rebound attempts were denied. Fought saw a close-range effort stopped in the 61st minute, and another chance later struck the crossbar.
Christopher’s best opportunity came late in regulation, but Kahn delivered a diving save to keep the match scoreless.
“They were massive,” Cedillo said of Kahn’s late saves. “In big games, you need big-time performances, and Alex stepped up when we needed him most. Those saves kept us alive and shifted the momentum back in our favor.”
“It was stressful,” Kahn said. “At any moment, the tide could have switched. If they would have scored right there, it would have been very bad.”
After 100 scoreless minutes, the championship moved to penalties — with Del Mar shooting first.
“We’ve been in tough moments all season,” Cedillo said. “I trust our goalkeeper, and I trust our shooters. In those moments, it’s about belief — and this team truly believes in each other.”
Rocha converted the opening kick.
“I already knew where I was going to put it,” Rocha said. “I knew it was going to give confidence to my team.”
Christopher answered, and Collins followed by converting to give Del Mar a 2–1 advantage.
On Christopher’s second penalty attempt, Kahn guessed correctly and made the save — preserving Del Mar’s lead after Collins had already scored and shifting the momentum firmly to the Dons.
“You could feel the belief grow on the sideline after that,” Cedillo said.
Marco Apolinario calmly converted the next attempt. Adrien Fuentes added another to extend the advantage.
Before the final kick, Cedillo kept the message simple.
“I told them to embrace the moment. Stay calm, pick your spot, trust your preparation, and do it for the guy next to you.”
That set the stage for Kevin Garcia.
“I just wanted to win,” Garcia said.
He converted the fifth penalty, sealing the 5–3 shootout victory and delivering the first CCS championship in the history of the Del Mar soccer program.
“It wasn’t just me,” Garcia said. “It was everyone.”
A Breakthrough Season
The championship represents the culmination of steady progression for a senior-heavy roster that transitioned from the BVAL B-League to the BVAL A-League and finished third in its first season at that level.
“Playing in the A-League forced us to grow up quickly,” Cedillo said. “That experience built resilience and prepared us for games like this.”
Two years ago, this group fell short in CCS. This time, they broke through.
“Experience and maturity,” Cedillo said. “That loss hurt, and they used it as motivation. This group is more united, more disciplined, and mentally stronger. They understand what it takes to finish the job — and tonight they showed it.”
“I am used to placing second,” Kahn added. “So it feels really good to win.”
Patrick Fought described the title as validation.
“We’ve been building,” he said. “It means everything to bring the spotlight to this organization.”
For the first time in program history, the Del Mar soccer team is CCS champion — and its season continues.
The Dons now host Pittsburg High School in the Division IV CIF State Playoffs, extending a run that has already redefined the program’s history.
