As NorCal Premier Soccer’s NPL returned for the new season, only the action on the field matched the blazing heat in which games were played in, as several of the top games went down to the wire. Here’s a look back on some of our games of the week from the first matchday of the year.

U19 BOYS NPL 1 B

Diablo FC 99 2, EBU Bay Oaks Gold 1

Diablo FC Goals: Ruiz, Dresdow
Bay Oaks Goal: Redfield

Despite hosting the match and scoring the first goal, EBU Bay Oaks would eventually fall to the visiting Diablo FC. Josh Redfield put the hosts up in just the 18th minute with a well-placed shot to the far post, leading to a confident Bay Oaks side heading into the half a goal up. Just three minutes into the second half, though, Diablo equalized through a chipped finish from Paris Ruiz. In the 69th minute, Diablo’s comeback was complete, with a far post finish from the visitors’ Kevin Dresdow sealing all three points.

U16 GIRLS NPL 1 WEST

Vision Academy 2, Rage ECNL 1

Vision Goals: Sorbello, Eastus
Rage Goal: Romero

With two of the top sides from last year’s NPL Champions League facing off, this matchup was always going to be a back-and-forth affair. And the action didn’t disappoint, with Vision’s Rosa Sorbello converting a pass from Ashleigh Ward from 12 yards out to put Vision on top. Pleasanton fought back, and were rewarded with a golazo later in the first half — a 38-yard cannon from Isabella Romero that leveled the game. Vision’s winner came just a few minutes into the second half, with a cross from Courtney Martinez finding center forward Maddie Eastus, who made no mistake and finished to give her side all three points.

U19 GIRLS NPL 1 C

Mustang 00/99 ECNL 4, SC Sporting 99 Green 2

Mustang Goals: Arbabaraghi 3, Scoma
SC Sporting Goals: Cacoyannis, Addison

Fireworks came early and often in this matchup as Mustang’s Lily Arbabaraghi scored the first goal of her eventual hat trick in just the 25th minute, only to be cancelled out three minutes later by Sporting’s Chloe Cacoyannis. In the 32nd minute, Mustang took the lead for good, through Angelina Scoma, before Arbabaraghi scored twice in the second half to put the game away. Oryann Addison also got on the scoresheet, hitting the back of the net in the 78th minute for a consolation goal.

U16 BOYS NPL 1 SOUTH

Lamorinda Navy 5, California Odyssey Red 0

Lamorinda Goals: Geannacopolus 2, Guzman 2, Serra

In the first game of the new season after a stellar campaign in which they did a league and cup double, Lamorinda United took the first step towards qualifying for the spring’s NPL Champions League with a 5-0 thrashing of California Odyssey. Two of the best attacking players in all of NorCal last year continued to show how successful they were, with Nickolas Geannacopolus and Adrian Guzman each bagging a brace to go along with a strike from Gabriel Serra.