Cardinals overcome odds, exceed expectations

At the end of a dream run in 2007-08 when the Lindsay boys’ soccer team romped through the regular season at a 17-3 clip and followed through with a Division IV Valley Championship, 12 seniors moved on and the Cardinals were supposed to be in rebuilding mode.

Apparently, someone forgot to tell them that.

The Cardinals nearly duplicated the previous season, returning to the championship game but only to find a cold, 4-0 loss to Parlier waiting for them.

Notwithstanding, Lindsay overcame odds that typically crush other squads — including a five-game addition to the standings’ losing column by reason of forfeiture — and for that, they earned the ninth spot on The Recorder’s Orange Belt Top 10 Teams of the 2008-09 season.

“No. 9 is good, but if I had anything to say about it, being in the top five would be better,” Lindsay coach Fode Doumbia said jokingly. “It’s an honor.”

No. 9 is definitely an achievement since most of last season’s varsity were new players with big shoes to fill, including Adrian Medina’s, who led the team with 28 goals in ‘07-’08.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, little brother Diego Medina filled those shoes quite nicely on his way to 31 goals — eighth best in the state of California — and 19 assists.

“We’re definitely going to miss him,” Doumbia said of the recent sophomore who will head to Sweden as part of Team USA’s 16-and-under team this month.

Following his stint on Team USA, Medina will take his game to Massachusetts, suiting up for Northfield Mount Hermon’s soccer squad.

The Cardinals will also lose five seniors, including four starters, before the start of next season. Of those departing seniors are the second- and third-leading scorers, Esteban Gonzalez (18 goals) and Filiberto Gutierrez (eight goals).

But just like last year, that’s no cause for concern.

“What I do before each year is ask them what their objectives are,” Doumbia said. “They all said they wanted a Valley championship. I said, ‘Alright, if that’s what you want, let’s go get it.’

“At the beginning, I wasn’t sure if they could do it but they had the talent,” Doumbia added. “And we almost did it. I’ve learned that if I let them set their own expectations, they’ll work harder to achieve them.”

One game shy, to be exact. On paper, the Cardinals’ 13-11-1 record would seem to indicate a more average year, but numbers can be deceiving.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that we’d be closer to 20-5,” Doumbia said of the five-loss punishment for fielding an ineligible player.

Others may also be unaware that Lindsay has two more ineligible players up their sleeves who are expected to be instant contributors next year. Forward Sergio Valera and Edgar Vasquez, whom Doumbia says can play anywhere, have been preparing with various members of the team in summer club play.

As far as next year’s roster, Doumbia said it’s up in the air until they start practices and the weeding-out process in which they act.

“I don’t have tryouts,” he said. “Anyone can show up and I push them hard in practices. Some of them leave and some stay. Many of the boys from last year worked hard and stayed with it.”