The Telescope

Issue Date: 11/13/06

Comets full of tricks in inaugural game

By Anthony Schwartz

Media Credit: William Macedo Palomar's Valentin Diaz (left) collides with Imperial Valley's Goalie in the first game ever played at Minkoff Field on the San Marcos campus. The Comets won the Pacific Coast Conference match 4-1 over Imperial Valley, as Diaz completed his first hat-trick of the season.

The men's soccer team crissened Minkoff Field Nov. 1, with a 4-1 victory over Imperial Valley in the first game ever played on the new field.

The Comets' Valentin Diaz scored three goals in another offense-driven performance by Palomar.

"We got the win. That's what counts," Valentin said.

Though Diaz may not have thought much of his hat trick, others noticed.

"I've been telling people how good of a player he is," head coach Carlos Hernandez said. "He's a fun guy to watch and when he's on fire, just sit down and enjoy it."

Hernandez knows, since this isn't the first time that Diaz has played for him.

"He played for me at my high school," said Hernandez, who also coaches for Escondido High. "That's why I recruited him. I've always felt he's a special guy, that he has talent."

Diaz admits that playing for Hernandez in the past is helping him play for the coach right now.

"I've known him long enough and know the way he wants me to play," Diaz said.

The ability of Diaz is something that many of the Comets noticed.

"He has that little magic other players lack. He doesn't do anything special, he just has it," said Goalie Julio Ruiz.

Ruiz himself played another solid game between the posts only letting one ball pass him on a play where he was drawn out of the goal.

The Arabs started the game with a goal in the middle of the first half. Palomar answered when Diaz scored a goal in the final minutes of the half.

Ten minutes into the second half, Palomar took the lead on a goal by Arturo Santiago and would not lose it the rest of the way.

Diaz scored his next goal on a place kick 10 minutes later and then one more near the end of the game.

The match started about an hour late due to confusion on the time of the game on the part of Imperial Valley.

Continued...

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