Falcons are knocked out of playoffs, but the two Pablos helped the team to a successful season.

By Aimee YEGHIAYAN

Black and white. Yin and Yang. Pablo and Pablo.
Some things just go together.

Pablo Hernandez and Pablo Sotillo, members of the CVHS boy’s soccer team, definitely do go together.

“The thing about Pablo and Pablo is that they’re like foils of each other but they work great together,” said co-captain Amir Hajimirsadeghi. “Big Pablo (Hernandez) is like the mellow relaxed one and little Pablo  (Sotillo) is the outgoing one. Even on the field I know little Pablo likes to humor himself into ‘the zone’ before the game, while big Pablo is more serious and quiet before games.”

Even in the case of Wednesday’s 2-1 loss against Century High School, knocking them out of the brackets and officially ending their season, Hernandez and Sotillo still fought as a pair with Sotillo scoring the only goal of the game for the Falcons.

Beginning their soccer careers in AYSO over 12 years ago, Hernandez and Sotillo both started the game through their family, with Sotillo followed in his older brother’s footsteps.

“I decided to start playing because I wanted to be like the soccer players I saw on tv,” said Hernandez. “Soccer was big in my house. Every weekend, I would watch games with my mom and grandpa.”

Years later, the incredible duo joined forces in AYSO. Going through state championships undefeated, their skills were combined along with Erick Trejo and Rani Dimashki during the AYSO National Games in Florida. Although Hernandez received a concussion the game before the final, they won anyway, giving them their first memory of many.

Hernandez began playing for CV his freshman year, with Sotillo joining the next year.

“What makes this team different is that we have a lot of fun but when it comes to game time we all buckle down and get very serious,” said Sotillo.

Following an incredible ‘11-12 season, the pair’s teamwork helped move the team forward in the ‘12-13 season with a combined total of 25 goals out of the team’s 59 goals, leaving them at 19-4-7 overall and 8-2-4 in league.

“The difference between this year’s team and the teams before is that we’re more equal. I feel like there are no superstars on our team, we’re all good and we’re like one big family.” said Hernandez.

“Of course like anyone else, my favorite part of playing is winning games. But I also love the buildup that comes with competitive soccer, as the season and playoffs progress, each game is more important and more intense than the one before it.”

After high school, Sotillo plans to go to college and hopes to continue his soccer career there as well, taking the Falcon spirit on with him. Hernandez wants to become an engineer and continue playing soccer “until I can’t stand up anymore. I love the game and its always going to be part of my life.”

With the end of their season, these Falcons have proven how far a little teamwork can take them. Balancing each other out, the two have soared through this season, showing their fans, their teammates, and themselves exactly what Pablo and Pablo can accomplish.

  Aimee Yeghiayan, Ed HAMILTON