“Obviously there is a push to win league. We know Upland will be a tough team to open against and it is a very big game for us. We want to set the tone right away and let the rest of the league know Damien is here to win it. That is why it would be great to start with a win.” — ” Damien coach Eric McElrea

Watch highlights of Garrett Souza, last year’s Sierra League defensive player of the year

STORY: The Damien High School soccer team pushed its way around and through the Sierra League the last four years, winning the last two league titles and taking three out of the last four crowns. The Spartans are ready to extend that influence to the Baseline League.
“We watched most of the other teams,” Damien coach Eric McElrea said. “It is different this year. We do not know what the matchups are about and everything is unknown going in.”
What McElrea does know is that the Spartans are playing as well as possible entering Friday’s home game against Upland.
“We’ve played very well all preseason,” McElrea said. “If we play our game, we will get the results we want to get. If we do that, we’ll win.
“Obviously there is a push to win league. We know Upland will be a tough team to open against and it is a very big game for us. We want to set the tone right away and let the rest of the league know Damien is here to win it. That is why it would be great to start with a win.”