Hernandez's three goals lead offensive attack as NVC men's soccer wins, 4-1
First photo: The starters for the Napa Valley College men's soccer team for its Bay Valley Conference match on Monday at home against Merritt College-Oakland.
Second photo: Head coach Rogelio Ochoa meets at halftime on Monday with his Napa Valley College men's soccer team.
Photos by Marty James
MARTY JAMES
martyjames.sports@gmail.com
It's the final week of the 2025 regular season for the Napa Valley College men's soccer team.
It's also the most important week, with so much at stake very late in the fall season.
"We look probably our best right now," Storm coach Rogelio Ochoa said. "We're still fighting. The team is together. The way we finish is going to really propel and determine next year as well, because we have a lot of first years. It's going to be a big learning curve of how to better start the conference."
Napa Valley is playing very well. The Storm took care of business during a Bay Valley Conference match at home on Monday, beating Merritt College-Oakland, 4-1, as Sergio Hernandez, a freshman forward, scored three goals to lead the offensive attack.
Hernandez scored three straight goals, highlighting a brilliant hat trick, as Napa Valley stayed in contention in the Bay Valley Conference race.
"He gave us a spark that we needed," said Ochoa.
It was the second straight win for the Storm (6-7-4 overall, 5-3-1 Bay Valley Conference). Napa Valley is in second place with just one game to go, on Thursday, Nov. 13 at home against Woodland Community College at 3 p.m.
"The (substitutes) kind of were the spark, because that was a message," said Ochoa. "And then at halftime, that was also the message, like, if we want to still have a shot at conference, we need to win today. We can't let mistakes happen. We can't let down. So, we've got to make sure we go."
Napa was ahead at halftime, 1-0. The Storm pulled away, scoring three goals in the second half of the game.
Contra Costa College-San Pablo (6-9-3 overall, 5-2-2 Bay Valley) is in first place, with 17 points. The Comets, who own two wins over Napa Valley this season, conclude the conference season on Thursday at home against Yuba College-Marysville. Napa Valley has 16 points.
"This puts pressure on first-place (Contra Costa)," said Ochoa. "This game puts pressure on (Contra Costa), that they have to win, knowing that we play at the same time. If we win, they're forced to win, to win it."
Napa Valley is right in the thick of it.
If Contra Costa ties or loses, and if Napa Valley wins, the Storm moves to the top of the standings and takes the title.
"If we win, (Contra Costa) needs to win and they take it," said Ochoa. "But if they win and we win, they still stay above us by a point. If they win, and we win, they beat us by a point."
The BVC champion automatically advances to the California Community College Athletic Association-Northern California Regionals. The 3C2A State Championships are Dec. 5 and 7, at Saddleback College-Mission Viejo.
A seeding meeting for the NorCal Regionals is on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Napa Valley now has 26 goals on the season and the Storm has won five of its last six games. They are 5-4-1 over their last 10 games.
"I'm happy we're still doing well, competing and looking strong," said Ochoa.
"We wanted to put pressure on (Contra Costa). That's all we can do. We'll try to win on Thursday. That's all we can do – try to win out."
Hernandez, who has been limited this season due to injury, came off the bench in Monday's game, injecting new life into the offense.
Hernandez scored an unassisted goal at the 40th minute of the first half, giving NVC a 1-0 lead.
He scored an unassisted goal at the 47th minute of the second half, increasing NVC's lead to 2-0.
Hernandez scored his third goal at the 60th minute of the second half. The assist went to Mario "Gio" Avina, a sophomore forward. The Storm was on top, 3-0.
Merritt scored on a penalty kick in the 68th minute.
Julian Robledo, a sophomore midfielder, scored for NVC in the 85th minute. The assist was credited to Adrian Ceja, a freshman midfielder.
Hernandez has played in eight games and has five goals and one assist. He has had injuries to his leg and anterior cruciate ligament.
"When he's available, he's very dangerous. But because he's had lots of injuries in the past, we have to be careful how we use him and when we use him," said Ochoa. "When he's available and fit like he's shown, he has a potential and the ability just to create chaos for any defense. He hasn't played the whole season. But when he plays, it's evident he's on the field."
Hernandez went into the game in the 22nd minute of the first half.
"We have a variety of players that can play and score goals and can be a threat. Sergio can create opportunities for others, and he can also put it in the net, which is a great attribute that he has. It's also his teammates that are around him that also give him space, give him opportunities. So, the more they link up like that, the more chances he will have," said Ochoa.
Also, playing well for the Storm was Cadel Newton-Knotch at goalkeeper. Newton-Knotch was credited with making four saves in 90 minutes.
"Give Cadel credit. He's kept us in every game he's played. He's done really well in the back line," said Ochoa.
* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.