Calexico soccer suffers heartbreak in CIF championship

Calexico falls in the CIF championship game to Point Loma on penalties.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Point Loma Pointers defeated the Calexico Bulldogs 5-3 on penalties in the CIF San Diego Section Division I Championship game on Saturday.

Point Loma wins their third straight CIF SDS title.

At halftime the game was scoreless. In the second half, Gael Melendez scored to give Calexico a 1-0 lead. In the final minute of regular time, Ezekiel Varela scored to equalize it a 1-1 and send the match to extra time. Neither squad were able to find a breakthrough during extra time, so penalties would decide the championship. The Pointers held a 4-3 advantage when Sergio Aguiar stepped to the spot, but the Calexico midfielder skied his kick over the bar. Fin Rohnow buried the ensuing penalty to seal the title for Point Loma.

This loss ends a spectacular 2025 season for the Bulldogs which saw them earn the top seed in the Division I bracket.

"Everybody always asks me, who's your best team?" Calexico head coach Javier Bernal said. Who's your "I can easily say now 2025, my last team, this is the best team that I've had."

After 23 years as head coach, Bernal has decided to step away from coaching. The long time skipper reflected on his career and impact following his final match at the helm.

"The friendships that I built over the years with the alumni and kids who are now men," Bernal said. "Who are now in their early 40s. Who are coaching with with me or working great jobs and have good families. That's the fondest memory."

Calexico finishes the season 19-6-5.