So far, so good for new Harmon coach Olivas

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

Harmon 8, Washington 1.

That final score from Monday's game between the Hawks and Wildcats is not exactly a new development in the Kansas City Kansas - Atchison League in terms of soccer results.

Both the Harmon boys and girls soccer programs have owned the rest of the league in soccer.

Here's what's a bit new - the boys team is making up ground against some of the larger soccer programs in Johnson County.

Under new head coach Carlos Olivas, the Hawks boys team nearly shocked the world - finishing second place in the Blue Valley West Fat Cat tournament, one that includes some good 6A programs in Kansas.

"We were expected by many to finish in eighth place in the tournament," Olivas said, of the eight-team field. "We had a lot to prove and our guys came through."

The expected eighth-place finish didn't happen after the Hawks defeated Shawnee Mission South 2-1 in round one after Chit Loo and Enrique Hernandez scored the two goals.

Goalkeeper Javier De Lara came up big during the tournament.

The second round featured the Hawks against the host school, Blue Valley West.

After a 0-0 draw to conclude regulation, Harmon edged out Blue Valley West 3-2 in penalty kicks.

While Harmon could not quite win the first-place trophy, the second-place finish was a celebrated one for a program that's won a lot in recent years.

The solid showing made the transition for the new coach even easier.

"The transition to the job was a lot smoother than I thought it would be," Olivas said. "The players also had to transition to new sets (and plays). They deserve credit."

As for the game Monday against the Wildcats, it was a slow start for the Hawks, who were coming off the Saturday loss against Blue Valley Northwest.

That changed midway through the first half, as the Hawks scored three goals in the final 21 minutes of the half to put the game on ice.

Loo scored the second and third goals, with the second coming on a beauty of a shot from about 12 yards out.

Two penalty kicks, along with a great header from Carlos Salas in the second half, was icing on the cake as the Hawks built an 8-0 lead.

"After losing to Blue Valley Northwest, I was interested to see how they would come back," Olivas said.

Harmon continues a busy seven days. They take on Wyandotte on Tuesday and Sumner Academy this Friday.

Both games will be played at Art Lawrence Stadium, with the varsity kicking off at 6:15 p.m.

The entire Harmon boys roster:

#1 Jesus Corral
#2 Mario Sandoval 
#3 Chit Loo
#4 Francisco Chame
#5 Alberto Martinez
#6 Juan Zavala
#7 Victor Mascote
#8 Breyson Ruiz

#9 Jessie Calderon
#10 Carlos Ruiz
#11 Giovanni Calderon
#12 Ismail Hussein
#13 Jesus Galvan
#14 Julio Sanchez
#15 Mauricio Ruiz
#16 Enrique Hernandez
#17 Luis Diosdado
#18 Ramon Jaracuaro
#19 Carlos Salas
#20 Abduilahi Mohamed
#21 GK Raul Ramos
#22 GK Pedro Conde
#23 GK Javier De Lara