FOR LOVE OF THE GAME

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006 | 7:12 a.m.

Back in September, Bishop Gorman soccer coach Nick Arbelaez said, "We intend to win for him this season. I think, ultimately, that's what will happen." When the Gaels won the state championship on Saturday, the tearful coach embraced his father, Victor. "This is all for you, Dad. We did it all for you."

Bishop Gorman's 3-2 comeback victory over Silverado was more poignant because the elder Arbelaez, a former pro player, had coached the Gaels for 20 years until being sidelined by cancer. After his second surgery in four years, he handed over the reins of the program to his eldest son before the season.

"We wanted to do this for Dad, for what he represented for 20 years. This was an excellent team, and that's what he always required - excellence," Nick Arbelaez said.

Although suffering through surgery on his jaw and chemotherapy, Victor Arbelaez was able to make it to the championship game and sit next to his son on the blustery November afternoon. "It was great having him on the sideline with me," Nick Arbelaez said, "He was up and down all game. We haven't seen him move that much since the surgery. But he helped settle me when the game got tense."

sam.morris@lasvegassun.com