Roberto Lopez
Age 17 | School Calexico High | Grade Senior
CALEXICO — For the second time in three seasons, the Calexico High boys’ soccer team advanced to the CIF-San Diego Section finals.
The Bulldogs played for a Div. I title in 2016 and also competed for a Div. II title on Saturday.
While Calexico fell short of bringing home a championship trophy, the team’s valiant effort to reach the final is worth noting.
The No. 12 Bulldogs defeated No. 8 Chula Vista, 1-0, in an overtime thriller on Feb. 28 to reach the finals, where they ultimately fell to No. 3 Del Norte, 4-1, at La Jolla High on Saturday.
Scoring both of the Bulldogs’ goals in the semis and final was Roberto Lopez.
The 17-year-old scored both goals via penalty kick to help the Bulldogs to another strong season.
“It wasn’t just me; it was really the team working together,” said the senior captain. “Everything we do, we do it together. It’s not just about one player.”
Lopez served as a midfielder for the Bulldogs this season, using his speed to break away and frustrate opponents at the same time.
“I think it genetics,” Lopez said with a laugh. “I don’t really do drills to run faster. It’s something I’ve always been able to do.”
Looking back, Lopez said he was disappointed to not win a title, yet was glad he had an opportunity to score.
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What do you enjoy most about your sport?
What I enjoy most is getting to play with my friends. That’s really important in soccer, so it was fun to get to know my team and play with them. We turned into a family.
What is one of your more memorable moments in your sport?
My most memorable moment was my sophomore year when we made it to the CIF-SDS Div. I finals and made history for the school.
Who inspires you and why?
The person that inspires me is my grandmother. She’s always encouraging me to be a good person, and she encourages me when I play soccer, too.
What did you enjoy most about this season?
In general I just enjoyed getting to play with my friends and making it as far as we did.