On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, Calabasas’ Boys Soccer defeated the Cajon Cowboys 3-0 in the first round of the CIF Division 2 playoffs, securing their first CIF playoff victory since 2022. The Coyotes’ last playoff win came when they defeated Camarillo High School 3-2 in the Division 2 bracket, though they fell 2-1 to Santa Ana in the second round.
The Marmonte League champion Coyotes faced Cajon High School, the third-place finishers in the Citrus Belt League. A powerhouse from San Bernardino, Cajon’s Division 2 appearance marked their seventh consecutive CIF playoff berth and their sixth double-digit win season in the last seven years.
Calabasas wasted no time asserting their dominance, controlling possession early and testing Cajon’s defense. Cajon countered with a 15-yard shot, but goalkeeper Elijah Lopez handled it comfortably. The Coyotes responded with relentless attacking pressure, highlighted by captain Liam Guedalia’s powerful strike in the 13th minute, which forced an impressive save from Cajon’s keeper.
Midway through the half, Calabasas broke the deadlock. With nine minutes remaining, junior Hadar Moskowitz unleashed a 15-yard strike past the goalkeeper, giving the Coyotes a 1-0 lead. The momentum remained firmly in Calabasas’ favor, and just before halftime, senior Dean Wilson capitalized on a loose ball in the box, slotting in a crucial second goal to extend the lead to 2-0.
Defensively, the Coyotes stood strong, limiting Cajon’s attacking opportunities. The Cowboys’ best chance came with four minutes left in the half when a long-range shot sailed over the crossbar, but they struggled to break through Calabasas’ disciplined backline. As the teams headed into the break, the Coyotes held a 2-0 advantage, setting the tone for the second half.
Calabasas nearly extended their lead early in the second half when substitute Laurenz Leitzgen fired a close-range shot just wide of the right post. The opening 10 minutes saw a battle for possession, but neither team generated any significant scoring opportunities.
Cajon nearly broke through with their best chance of the match, as their captain Darey Zamora fired a shot just wide of the left post, but they remained stifled by Calabasas’ defense.
“When we had the ball, we had such long stretches of possession that tired out our opponents,” said head coach Elliot Otmani. “When they eventually get the ball, they might end up making poor decisions, and we can take advantage of that.”
With 19 minutes remaining, the Coyotes put the game out of reach. Jago curled a brilliant 12-yard strike into the back of the net to push the lead to 3-0. Cajon continued to push forward in desperation, but goalkeeper Elijah Lopez remained steady, intercepting a dangerous cross into the box.
Calabasas played steady in the final minutes, secured a dominant 3-0 victory, and advanced to the second round of the CIF Division 2 playoffs.
“I was very happy with the performance and the way we possessed the ball,” said Otmani. “We were detailed in what we wanted to do for the whole match.”
The Coyotes’ next round is on Saturday, aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to ten games against the winner of Norco High School vs. Santiago High School, two Big VIII League teams from the Corona area.
