By Phillip Brents

The Castle Park High roller hockey team entered its name in the record book Tuesday following its 13-0 victory against Montgomery. Actually, make that names.

The Trojans - playing their first-ever CIF-sanctioned game - established several new standards in the fledgling Metro Conference circuit. Among the records set in just the second week of official league play were most goals scored in one game (13), most power play goals scored in one game (5), most goals by an individual player (5), most points by a player in one game (9) and most players with three-goal hat tricks in one game (2).

Sophomore Brian Baker became the first player in CIF history to score five goals in one game. He was followed in the goal-scoring department by sophomore teammate Arturo Garcia with four goals. Baker finished the game with five goals and four assists to set the early watermark for individual performance.

Goaltender Emmanuel Madrid received credit for the shutout victory.

"They did great as a team. If we started out this way - and we've got so far to go - we're going to win some games," said an understandably elated Castle Park coach Gene Garcia.

Two other records can also be noted: most goals by a pair of brothers in one game (6) and most points by a pair of brothers in one game (12). Arturo Garcia finished the game with four goals and two assists; younger brother Richard settled for two goals and four assists. Richard Garcia came within an inch of becoming the third Trojan to score a hat trick in the game when his breakaway shot in the final minute of play rattled off the goalpost.

Call them the Trojans' "Terrific Trio" - or "Terrorizing Trio," from an opponent's viewpoint - the two Garcia siblings and Baker have been playing together for the past eight years, so their dominance on the court was not unexpected. "Every tournament we had gone to, they've been my all-star players," the elder Garcia noted.

Baker scored the first goal in team history, assisted by Arturo Garcia, and earned honors for fastest hat trick by scoring his third goal to give Castle Park a 4-0 lead. Baker became the first player in CIF history to score four goals in a game when his unassisted tally hiked the Trojans' lead to 6-0 early in the second half. Baker's record fifth goal gave Castle Park a 10-0 lead. Arturo Garcia notched his hat trick goal on a power play, assisted by his brother. The same two hooked up again to extend the team's lead to 12-0, giving Arturo his fourth goal in the process.

Also registering goals for the Trojans, who entered their inaugural game with no practices, were Ramon Esquerra and Hector Ortiz while Erick Banaga picked up an assist. It was the breakthrough effort from the team's rookies that made the coach smile the most.

"I tried to pair up two of the three strong players with two of the rookies on each shift," Gene Garcia explained. "I rotated them around. That's the way you get your rookies involved ... and two scored."

The inspirational victory also served as a recruiting tool: four players approached the Castle Park coach after the game wanting to know if it was too late to join the team.

The answer: no.

In other games Tuesday at RollerSkateLand:

The Titans inaugurated the Red Devils first-ever game with an avalanche of goals as Azuma Franklin made history as the first goaltender to record a shutout in CIF play. Danny Cordero (3 goals, 2 assists) and Matt Ponce de Leon (2 goals, 3 assists) paced Eastlake (1-0-1) with five points apiece while Alex Verdugo and ScottPowers both contributed two goals and one assist to the Titans' scoring column. Cordero became the second Eastlake player to record a hat trick in as many games, following Erick Syktich's three-goal lead effort in the inaugural conference game the previous week. Syktich finished Tuesday's game with a goal and an assist - a figure matched by Justin Rodriguez.

The unbeaten Barons (1-0-1) received goals from eight players in a balanced scoring effort. John Donahoo, Reuben Felizardo and Joseph Goularte all topped the Bonita Vista point-scorers with one goal and two assists apiece while defenseman Doug Lentz scored his second consecutive two-goal game. Also scoring goals for the Barons were Ben Felizardo, Joey Galeno, Dante Concepcion and Austin Ballow, who also had an assist in the game. Gerry Nix averted a shutout for the Spartans by scoring the first goal in team history with just two seconds remaining in regulation play, assisted by Regan Russell.

By Phillip Brents

Hilltop shared last season's South Bay League club roller championship banner with Eastlake, with the lone blemish on the Lancers' otherwise spotless league schedule a midseason loss to Bonita Vista.

With the move to official CIF status this season, Hilltop looks to extend the tradition it has established in the sport at the local level. A new look, a new beginning, new teams - but the Lancers continue to roll along through it all.

The Barons found that out following Tuesday's 9-4 setback to the three-time South Bay League champions at Chula Vista's RollerSkateLand.

The Lancers built a 7-0 lead in a game that some felt might be a test.

"We got two solid lines and two good goalies," said Hilltop coach Dan Vaccaro, whose skilled speed demons harassed Bonita Vista all game long. "We also got a very good attitude. The kids come ready to play. Overall, we've got a real good team. We'll do real well all season."

Few would refute that statement after witnessing Tuesday's Lancer win.

Sophomore Joseph Casillas sparked the Hilltop offense with three goals and two assists while Josh Gomez scored two goals and two assists. Sophomore Carl Horten added two goals and one assist while George Agonowski and Eric Morgan both contributed one goal and one assist apiece. Goaltender Chris Romero was solid, picking up his second victory in as many starts.

The Barons, who fell to 3-1-1 on the season, tried to make a game of it by scoring three unanswered goals to trail 7-3. But Hilltop quickly put a stop to that when Casillas scored to make the score 8-3, followed by a back-breaking goal by Horten to hike the Lancer lead to six goals.

Joseph Victoria led Bonita Vista with two goal while Doug Lentz added a goal and assist. Ben Felizardo scored once while Joseph Goularte and Joey Galeno both picked up assists.

The Barons had entered the game after outscoring their previous two opponents 30-1 on the court. Bonita Vista set a new CIF record for most goals scored in one game with an 18-1 victory against Mar Vista on Nov. 30 and followed that with a 12-0 win against Montgomery on Dec. 7.

But all the early momentum belong to the Lancers. Casillas, who came into his own as a player in last season's club playoff tournament, scored the game's critical jump goal in the first minute of play. "I told Joseph to go out there and take the best slapshot he had and see what their goalie had. He did and scored. That set the tempo for the game," Vaccaro noted.

The Hilltop helmsman also gave Agonowski good marks for his play, calling him the team's "pleasant surprise" thus far. "He's come out of nowhere," Vaccaro said.

The Lancers, well ... appear to be going somewhere.

***

Castle Park's Richard Garcia equalled the CIF single-game record of nine points by tallying three goals and six assists in the Trojans' 14-0 victory against Sweetwater - matching totals racked up by teammates Brian Baker and Arturo Garcia in previous games.

Jevon Meyers aided the Castle Park cause with five goals and one assist. The five goals ties a team season high. Newcomer Mike Delgado scored a hat trick in his first game while Arturo Garcia added to his prolific season scoring total with three goals and five assists.

In the 18-1 win against Mar Vista, John Donahoo paced Bonita Vista with one goal and five assists while Ben Felizardo (3 goals, 2 assists) and Joseph Victoria (2 goals, 3 assists) both added five points. The Barons received goals or assists from a total of 11 players in the contest, including six players who scored two or more goals. Reuben Felizardo notched five goals in the victory against Montgomery while Victoria contributed a hat trick.

Eastlake handed upstart Castle Park its first loss in school history, 8-1, in another game played on Dec. 7. The Titans, who improved to 2-0-1 in the process, were led by Danny Cordero's hat trick and a pair of goals from Matt Ponce de Leon.

Chula Vista scored its first CIF win in school history by turning back Mar Vista's fledgling team, 10-1, also on Dec. 7. Thomas Doran keyed the Spartans with three goals while teammate Cregg Corona added two goals and two assists.

Sweetwater edged Montgomery, 7-6, in a battle of first-year programs on Dec. 5. Gerardo Ortega and Marco Tolentino scored the first-ever hat tricks in Red Devils history while Abel Sanchez (one goal, one assist) and Richard Kolerich (two assists) both had two points. Robert Solis scored twice for the Aztecs while teammate Aaron Shinkle contributed one goal and two assists and Jamil Patiag had one goal and one assist.

By Phillip Brents

Comments from between the benches of Tuesday's Metro Conference roller hockey game between Hilltop and Eastlake high schools centered on the standing-room only crowd at Chula Vista RollerSkateLand.

"Look how many are here to see this game!" came the cries of astonishment.

Those onlookers were not disappointed as Hilltop captured an inspirational come-from-behind 4-3 victory in the clash of unbeaten teams.

"I anticipated a very difficult game and we got one," Hilltop coach Dan Vaccaro succinctly said. "I'm very proud. We came from two goals down and won. Hilltop came together as a team. Our goalie (Rick Benavides) played very well and George Agonowski, he's just super. Our captain, Josh Gomez, also played very well."

The victory was Benavides' first in his high school career. After allowing the game's first two goals, the Lancer defense clamped down as the Lancers (4-0-0) outscored the Titans (4-1-1) by a 4-1 margin over the balance of the contest.

"I felt bad. I thought they were going to win," Benavides said after Eastlake jumped out to a 2-0 lead. "At the end, we started to play more defensive-minded. They have a good offense."

Matt Ponce de Leon, one of the driving forces behind the Titans offense, got the game's jump-goal after the teams had played through a lengthy scoreless period. Tyson Leomo, another mover among the Eastlake forwards, got the assist. Erick Gallardo, set up by the team's defensive bulwark, Danny Cordero, gave the Titans a 2-0 lead.

But unanswered goals by Hilltop's Joseph Casillas and Eric Morgan, both assisted by Agonowksi, tied the game. After Ponce de Leon fed Ricky Hernandez to put Eastlake back on top, 3-2, the Lancers closed the game with two goals. Gomez, set up by Morgan, drew the game-leveling goals while Casillas scored the game-winning goal on a power play, assisted by Carl Horten.

Eastlake goalie Azuma Franklin was otherwise brilliant in suffering the loss.

"I think we matched up very well against one of the best teams in the county," said Eastlake coach Jeff Mechling, whose team was coming off a 14-0 victory against Montgomery in its last game. "The kids gave it 100 percent all game just like they've done all season. They played hard. We made just a few mistakes and it cost us."

In other league games Tuesday, Richard Garcia scored three goals and two assists to help lead Castle Park (4-2-0) past Chula Vista (1-3-0) by a 9-4 score, while Mar Vista (1-3-1) picked up its first win in school history with a 3-2 decision against Montgomery (0-5-0).

In a game played on Jan. 4, Reuben Felizardo led Bonita Vista (4-1-1) with four goals and two assists while teammate Joseph Victoria scored four goals in the Barons' 19-0 win against Southwest. The 19 goals set a new CIF record for most goals scored in one game.