The 2026 Boys Soccer Championship was more than just a game, it was the payoff to a season full of pressure, growth, and unfinished business from the year before. After falling short in the 2025 championship, this year’s team came back with something to prove. From the very beginning, that motivation was clear.
For #13 center back, Keven Diaz, confidence was building even before the final. Diaz says, “I felt confident and I knew we were going to win it after losing the final last year,” reflecting on the week leading up to the championship. That confidence came from experience and the memory of last year’s loss, which pushed the team to work harder.
#30 striker Kenneth del Rio had a slightly different mindset. “I felt nervous but confident,” Del Rio explained. He continues “Also trying to be motivated and keeping my head up with positive thoughts.” His honesty shows the mixed emotions players carried from excitement, pressure, and determination all at once.
Varsity Coach Oliva emphasized the team’s steady approach. “We took it one game at a time.” Coach Oliva said. “I thought about the experience the team had last year while making it to the final and always believed we could do it again.” That focus on growth and resilience had become a key part of their journey.
The bus ride to the championship game captured the team’s emotions perfectly. Players described a mix of nerves and excitement on the way there, knowing the moment had finally arrived. Del Rio stated, “I felt like the time had come and we had to lock in and stay focused on the prize.”
#1 goalie Tyler Mekpongsatorn added that this ride felt different from the rest, admitting that “even while listening to music, I could feel the pressure,” knowing how much was at stake. #6 center back Isaiah Mahmood echoed that intensity, saying he felt “so excited and anxious.”
During the game itself, emotions ran high. Both players admitted feeling more nervous than usual, with Diaz saying “I felt nervous at the start but we took control after a bit and felt calm and confident.” Coach Oliva pointed out a turning point early in the match: after a difficult first 15 minutes, the team regrouped during a water break, reset mentally, and began to play their style of soccer. That shift ultimately led them to victory.
Mekpongsatorn remained composed throughout the match, noting “I stayed focused, although there wasn’t much action on my end thanks to our strong defensive performance.” Mahmood, however, described early frustration, pointing out challenges with the heat and lack of proper warm-up, which led to a rough start. Still, after the team scored, he said “everything changed and everyone seemed to wake up” and from that moment on, he felt confident they would win.
On the way back, though, everything changed. The nerves were gone, replaced by relief and celebration. Coach Oliva even joked that the team felt like asking the bus driver to “take the long way back” just to enjoy the moment a little longer. Mahmood added that he felt “a bunch of weight from last year’s loss relieved,” while the team celebrated their accomplishment together.
The road to the championship wasn’t always easy and smooth though. Throughout the playoffs, several teams were disqualified, creating tension and confusion. Diaz described feeling stressed and “…stayed up thinking about it late at night,” while Del Rio saw it as a sign that some teams weren’t following the rules.
Despite the chaos, the huskies stayed focused. Del Rio emphasizes “We fought for our spot” with Coach Oliva adding that while it was unfortunate, his team proved themselves by winning every round, including against the top seed.
For Mekpongsatorn, seeing other teams get disqualified was surprising and served as a reminder of “importance of staying focused on our own path.” Mahmood admitted the situation made him nervous, saying “I was terrified that we would get kicked out somehow,” but especially at the thought of his own team being disqualified, especially if it had been his fault, continuing “and even worse if it was my fault I would feel so bad.”
There were even rumors and concerns about possible disqualifications affecting their own team, but overall, they stayed confident in their integrity. “We played by the rules” Del Rio argues, with Coach Oliva agreeing, saying “we did everything in the right way so there was no room for worry.”
When asked about other teams reporting each other during playoffs, opinions were mixed. Some players felt it was just part of the competition, while Coach Oliva acknowledged the complexity of the situation. “There are rules for a reason and we have to stick to them,” he says. “However at the end of the day what matters is how you play on the field.”
Mahmood was more critical of the situation, arguing that while rules matter, some teams used reports as a way to advance. He explained that his team chose a different approach, focusing on proving themselves on the field rather than relying on outside factors, and for this team, their performance spoke for itself.
Winning the championship brought a wave of emotions. Relief, pride, and happiness were shared across the team with Diaz saying “After a long and hard fought season, [I’m] proud to say we did it as a team.” Del Rio described the season as rough at first, especially with the team’s chemistry, but everything came together at the right time for them. “We really started to lock in…the feeling of celebrating was the best knowing that we made history.”
Mekpongsatorn described the moment as one of pure happiness and relief, celebrating in a team huddle and taking in the accomplishment together. Mahmood describes the win as “an astronomical feeling, the weight of all the pressure lifted off and the sudden realization that we had just made history for NHHS quite literally stunned me.” He emphasized that every player contributed and that the team truly earned their place in history, “The win was 100% deserved, we wouldn’t have been able to do it without each and every player, even if some think otherwise, everyone played a part.”
For Coach Oliva, the victory was both emotional and meaningful. He highlighted the struggles the team faced and the satisfaction of finally reaching their potential. More importantly, he emphasized what the win represented: North Hollywood High School’s very first CIF Division III Boys Soccer Championship.
Looking back, each person took something valuable from this experience. Diaz’s message was simple but powerful: “A winner is someone who doesn’t give up” Del Rio focused on effort and intensity, while Coach Oliva shared a lesson that goes beyond sports: “It doesn’t matter how you start, what matters is how you finish. I think that’s a lesson to everyone beyond the sport.”
In the end, this championship wasn’t just about a trophy. It was about resilience, teamwork, and proving that growth and perseverance can turn past losses into unforgettable victories.
