NCS FINAL
For the fifth time in Berkeley High School history, BHS’ boys varsity soccer team won the North Coast Section (NCS) championship on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. After going mostly undefeated all season, the team advanced into and won the semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, defeating Albany 2-0, with goals from juniors Oliver Sensenig and Caden Ascher Webber. In a neck to neck final just days after, BHS secured a 1-0 victory over San Ramon Valley High School, reclaiming the NCS title after being disqualified from the tournament last year.
From the opening whistle, both teams pushed for a goal. San Ramon created several early chances, but BHS’ defense and goalkeeper held strong. BHS senior and forward Jake Goetting described the match as physically challenging and said that the team simply needed to create the right goal scoring opportunity.
The game remained scoreless through the first half as both sides took shots and fought for possession. Fullback August Kung, BHS junior, said the intensity was clear from the start. “(We had) a lot of transitions and counterattacks … the atmosphere was great and fans were loud,” Kung said.
Berkeley’s defense played a major role in keeping San Ramon off the scoreboard. Several players pointed to the performance of the goalkeeper, whose upfield distribution and key saves prevented close goals. “Our goalkeeper … was very strong and claimed a lot of the balls, helping us get out of our own half,” Goetting said. BHS senior and midfielder Calder Corson added to this thought, “I would give a big shout out to our keeper, Dre (Andreas Lukan). Their long throws are a lot like corners, and he came out and he claimed almost every single one of them, and I think that was their main tactic to score goals, and he stopped it himself,” Corson said.
With time running down in the second half, BHS finally broke through San Ramon’s defense. After a free kick from BHS centerback Willem Vincent, the ball bounced around before finding BHS senior Ronaldo Abramsonward, who settled it and fired the decisive winning shot. Abramsonward stated the moment happened quickly. “The ball just kind of ended up on my chest,” Abramsonward said, “I tried to settle it down and have a shot, and luckily the keeper didn’t seem like he was ready for it.”
The goal came in the final minutes, giving BHS a 1-0 lead they would hold until the timer ran out. BHS junior Key Lim, a defender, said the team’s persistence made the difference. “It was a very intense game, neck and neck up until the very end, and we just found a way to come through and get the win,” Lim said.
For many players, the victory meant more than just a championship. “All the fans out here, just so hype, so much passion, it was a really hard-fought game,” Corson said.
The NCS championship checked off a remarkable sports season for the Jackets, highlighted by lots of resilience and determination among players, especially seniors. “A lot of the seniors are going to college, and it’s kind of like one last chance for everyone to be able to play ... The camaraderie on this team is what makes it so special,” Lim explained.
CIF NORCAL FINAL
Berkeley High School’s season came to a close in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state tournament final on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in a rematch against San Ramon Valley High School. Having made history in making it to the Division II CIF finals, the Jackets fell 2-1 in a tight match. San Ramon accumulated five yellow cards throughout the game, reflecting the intensity on the field.
San Ramon appeared on the scoreboard early on in the game through a controversial play in which the ball was crossed into the penalty box, saved and rebounded by BHS’ goalkeeper Lukan, tapped in by San Ramon, only to be pushed away by BHS’ goalkeeper before the referee ruled it had crossed the line. The decision left many players and fans disappointed, and soon after, San Ramon later scored another goal to take a 2-0 lead.
However, in a display of resilience, BHS pushed back in the second half, creating several chances that culminated in BHS midfielder Corson scoring off of a freekick to bring the game to 2-1. BHS continued pressing San Ramon but were unable to score before the final whistle.
Boy’s varsity soccer head coach Andre Hebert said he understood the frustration surrounding the first goal, but focused on the broader perspective. “Soccer is not fair. Soccer is like life,” Hebert said. Despite the result, he reflected on the group with pride, calling it his favorite team in his 12 years at BHS and across his years coaching club soccer. “As a collective, they’re more like a hive mind than they were individuals,” Hebert said, “They stick up for each other and every player did something this year to make an impact on the team. They had each other’s backs.” For Hebert, the most meaningful moment of the season came after this game. “Being in the locker room just then, watching them talk about everything,” Hebert said.
Hebert said working with the group reminded him of why he continues coaching. “I’m getting older and it’s a grind, and this just brings life back to me,” Hebert said, “For all that talk about teenagers being bad and all that stuff, I love being around people I think are the future.”
Even after the loss, his message to players is to keep the moment in perspective. While the season ended just short of a state title, BHS’ season will be remembered for their North Coast Section championship and their strong unity, making history for BHS boys soccer.