Highlanders beat Williams, 4-1
The Piedmont High School boys soccer team added a new trophy to the case: The first California Interscholastic Federation regional championship in school history.
The Highlanders secured the Division 5 regional title with a 4-1 victory over Williams on March 8 at Witter Field. Senior Gianluca Bini concluded his high school career with a hat trick in the first half as Piedmont had control of the game early on.
Bini had such a great night, not even a blown out shoe could slow him down. He was showing off the shoe after the match. The material split and he spent the latter part of the game with his pinky toe hanging out.
“Midway through the second half, I had to turn around really quickly, and this shoe’s beat up, I’ve already got two holes in it,” he said. “It just gave out. I think it’s two months old. Just plastic I guess.
“I just played through it. I had my pinky hanging out the whole game. I was hoping no one stepped on my foot. It was uncomfortable but I powered through. The reason I got this new shoe, I already broke my last ones and two months later, these are gone.”
The shoe died a hero. Bini’s first goal came on a penalty kick in the 25th minute. He explained his thought process.
“Just don’t mess it up,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll just figure it out when I’m going to kick the ball. I try not to do the same thing every time.”
Bini’s second goal came off a long pass from Harper Mand in the 39th minute. The play actually started at the other end where goalkeeper Lucas Malecki sent the ball to Jacques Saldanha who got it to Mand.
“That’s just a good example of team buildup,” Saldanha said. “On that play, goalkeeper, captain, captain, captain, goal. That just felt so good stringing it all together.”
Said Mand, “It was just a great find by Jacques, to find me in the middle. We’ve been stressing it all year, that we need to communicate, work together as a team. They’re telling me I have plenty of time. Gianluca made a great run in behind. I know he’s going to score, there’s not a doubt in my mind he’s making it.”
Concluded Bini, “Harper, unbelievable ball, perfection. Just went right over the center backs. He put it on a platter for me and all I had to do was put it away.”
That kind of team cohesion was what transformed a team that was 5-8-4 on the field during the regular season into one that went 6-1 in the North Coast Section and CIF tournaments.
“We’ve been meeting off the field plenty, just hanging out, making sure we’re bonded,” Saldanha said. “That enhances friendship. I think it’s really more the connection, making sure we’re playing hard for each other. Not a different team, a different attitude.”
Bini’s third goal came just a couple of minutes later during first half stoppage time. This time Maxwell Goldfarb took a long dribble and got the ball to Bini, who got the ball through goalkeeper Jose Pineda.
“Gianluca truly incredible today,” Saldanha said. “What a way to step up.”
It could have been worse. Earlier in the 31st minute, Derin Dubancuoglu had a great chance when he faked Pineda and got around him but Angel Hernandez got back and made a terrific save on the ball.
Piedmont’s Jimmy Lagios (37) battles Ernie Lemus (7) of Williams during the first half of the Highlanders 4-1 victory on March 8 at Witter Field. 
Piedmont’s Harper Mand (35) and Derin Sabuncuoglu and Ernie Lemus (7) of Williams watch a corner kick approach. Lemus later scored the only goal for Williams. 
Piedmont’s Bosco Lorin (50) and Leo Hernandez (11) of Williams wait for the ball to come down during their CIF Northern regional final at Witter Field on March 8. The Highlanders won, 4-1.
Brian Jimenez came on in goal and made several strong saves in the second half for the Yellowjackets.
The lead stayed at 3-0 until the 80th minute when Ernie Lemus got loose in front and put the ball past Malecki. The Highlanders immediately answered when Bosco Lorin scored off his right foot.
Williams’s Octavio Parra (L) and Piedmont’s Bosco Lorin wait for the ball. Piedmont defeated Williams 4-1 to win the CIF Division 5 Northern regional title.
“So proud of them, where we started, where we are right now,” Piedmont coach Ben Russell said. “To do that in a final is just fantastic. The way we done it in the first half, understanding the tactics going into executing a game plan, I can’t be more happy with them.”
It was just the second loss of the year for Williams (15-2-2). The Yellowjackets fans came out in force despite the long drive and outnumbered Highlanders fans in the stands. Bini said it the regional tournament created some unknowns for Piedmont, which had never faced Williams before.
“We looked on MaxPreps just try to get a gauge of where they were,” Bini said. “They came out way stronger than I thought they would have. They’re actually a phenomenal team. I just think Piedmont did it best. We just worked as a team and did an amazing job and I’m so proud of everyone.”
The regional championship ends Piedmont’s season. The CIF is expected to start a state tournament starting soon, possibly next year.