OCEANSIDE — From this point a year ago, spanning the close of last season to the start of this one, Oceanside junior Tristan Martinez and his boys soccer teammates are unbeaten.

Martinez kept the Pirates rolling by scoring all three of their goals to top San Pasqual 3-1 for the Showcase Division consolation championship in the 29th annual SoCal High School Classic tournament hosted by Oceanside on Monday.

Oceanside (6-0-1) extended its unbeaten streak to 23 games, including six playoff outings last year, resulting in the CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 title and the school’s first Southern California Regional crown in Division 4.

Nine starters from last season’s team (19-1-4) are back for the Pirates, whose last loss came to San Pasqual in Elite Division tourney final a year ago.

“Last year, we did it as a team with hard work,” Martinez said. “So this year, we know that we again have to do that hard work.”

Martinez did so in style against the Eagles (6-3), his goals coming (in order) off a header, his left foot and finally his right, nearly matching his four goals on the season previously.

“I needed to do what I had to do,” the second-year varsity forward said. “I just felt like I had control of the game and what I was doing.”

Martinez first converted off a crossing pass from senior Hassan Diaz in the 15th minute, answering the opening goal by San Pasqual’s Sam Rantamaki just two minutes earlier.

The next goal in the 25th minute came off an assist from senior Braulio Ibarra for a 2-1 halftime lead.

Martinez added his final score with 15 minutes left.

Ibarra entered the game just a minute before helping on the second goal as he had limited playing time in his return from a knee injury sustained in the tourney opener.

“Last year, we were chasing after the big opponents,” Ibarra said.

“Now everyone is chasing after us. So just have to be ready for all the big games to come.”

To reach the consolation final, Lincoln Newcomer scored his only two goals of the season to lift Oceanside past San Clemente 2-1. In the tourney opener, the Pirate had a 1-1 tie with Bellflower St. John Bosco, which advanced on penalty kicks.

The Pirates have moved to Division 1 for this season’s section playoffs with the chance to qualify for the Open Division.

“Our guys have continuity, comfort and chemistry,” said Oceanside coach Frank Zimmerman, now in his 30th year.

“This is one of those teams in my career that I’ll never forget just because of how close they are.”

In the Elite Division final, senior Gianluca Fajardo scored three goals to lead Rancho Buena Vista (6-2-2) to a 3-2 comeback win over Long Beach Wilson (4-4-2) in overtime.

“It was amazing,” said Fajardo, who converted two penalty kicks, including a golden goal four minutes into overtime.

“We fought our way through it with a team effort.”

The Longhorns have surged since dropping their first two games this season. Lake Balboa Birmingham (12-1) prevailed 3-2 over Montclair (5-6) for the Showcase Division title.

Originally Published: December 30, 2024 at 4:03 PM PST