Ceres High’s boys soccer team played an evenly-matched game in the opening half during last week’s crosstown matchup versus Central Valley.
Tied at 1-1, the Bulldogs allowed two goals in the second half en route to losing 3-1 to the Hawks on Feb. 11 at CUSD Stadium.
Central Valley beat Ceres High twice (3-1, 3-0) this season.
“No excuses,” Ceres High leader Gilbert Zamora said. “Central Valley has a good team. Most of their players play travel soccer together. They know how to deal with stress.”
“To finish the regular season off with a win against Ceres High was great,” Central Valley leader Horacio Garcia stated. “It’s very special to everyone. The kids had fun. There’s extra motivation when we play. You’re playing for bragging rights.”
Ceres High amassed a 7-11-5 overall record and finished sixth in the Western Athletic Conference with a 4-9-1 mark during the regular season.
Central Valley amassed a 16-6-6 overall record and claimed the WAC title with an 11-1-2 mark
Four schools from the eight-team league qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, including the Hawks, Pacheco Panthers, Lathrop Spartans and Livingston Wolves.
“We’re going through bad times,” Zamora said. “It’s been a struggle. It’s going to get better. Our JV team did really well. We have freshmen that play at the travel level.”
“Unfortunately, their season ended,” Garcia stated. “I wish both teams could be in playoffs. Ceres High has a good team. I believe they’ll be a lot more competitive next season.”
Samuel Vargas accounted for Ceres High’s lone goal during the crosstown rematch.
Bulldog goalkeeper Angel Perez made three saves.
Central Valley’s Alejandro Garcia tallied two goals versus Ceres High.
Ivan Cervantes scored once.
Oscar Monzon, Ivan Velasquez and Tahte Yang all collected one assist.
Carlo Navarro and Osvaldo Cisneros split time at goalkeeper.
Navarro made two saves in the opening 20 minutes.
Cisneros was forced to make just one save in the final 60 minutes.
The Bulldogs and Hawks both scored once in the first half.
Garcia tallied a goal in the opening five minutes.
Vargas evened the contest when he converted a penalty kick.
Cervantes’ second-half goal proved to be the game-winner.
Yang delivered the pass.
“It was a tight game,” Zamora said. “We moved the ball together as a team. We took shots and missed.”
“I’m just happy to get the win,” Horacio Garcia said. “It’s exciting to continue our dominance against Ceres High.”
Central Valley players fed off the energy of its own fans during the rivalry game.
“That’s the largest crowd we’ve played in front of since I’ve been here,” Horacio Garcia said. “The kids felt it. It pushed them to put in a little more effort.”
A combined 13 Bulldog and Hawk players were recognized during last week’s Senior Night game.
Ceres High’s Noel Arana, Daniel Cardenas, Fabian Montanez, Enrique Murrillo and Samuel Vargas will be lost to graduation.
Central Valley’s Alan Alvarez, Fidel Hernandez, Alejandro Garcia, Enrique Lopez, Artemio Ortiz, Anantah Sivongxay, Ivan Velasquez and Tahte Yang will graduate in June.
“They had positive attitudes, win or lose,” Zamora said. “They were team players.”
“It’s a pleasure to have them on the team,” coach Garcia said. “I’m very thankful. They’re big contributors to our success this year.”
Third-seeded Central Valley will play host to 14th-seeded River City (6-7-5, 5-3-2) in the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs today at 6 p.m.
The game will be staged at Ceres High School.
River City placed second in the Monticello Empire League.
“I’m very happy with how everything turned out,” Horacio Garcia said while assessing his team’s regular-season performance. “We had high expectations from the start. We did excellent. Our first goal was to win league, which we were able to do. Hopefully, we reach our second goal, which is the section championship. But we have to win three key games to get to the finals. We have a really good team. We have to prove it in the playoffs.”
