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Hawks suffer first loss in WAC play since 2012
Panthers post 2-1 victory over Hawks
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Jose Yepez and Central Valley will look to bounce back against crosstown-rival Ceres High next Monday at Bulldog Stadium. The contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. The Hawks had their 30-match unbeaten streak in Western Athletic Conference play snapped last Wednesday. Central Valley lost 2-1 to host Pacheco. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Central Valley High School’s varsity boys soccer team had its 30-match unbeaten streak in Western Athletic Conference play snapped this past week.

The Panthers of Pacheco edged the short-handed Hawks 2-1 on Wednesday in Los Banos.

“We just don’t seem to have a full squad every game,” Central Valley head coach Omar Leon said. “Four of our starting players were either injured or didn’t play because they had very important games with their traveling teams. Injuries are happening because players are overtraining trying to keep up with practices and games with two different teams at the same time. Looking into the future, the kids are going to have to choose between playing travel or high school.”

Hawk goalkeeper Enrique Garcia totaled eight saves against the Panthers.

Central Valley opened WAC play with a 2-0 win over El Capitan on Sept. 14 in Ceres.

Emmanuel Jimenez accounted for both of the Hawks’ goals.

Garcia made four saves.

Central Valley (5-7-2 overall, 1-1-0 WAC) will host Livingston today at 4 p.m.

The Hawks won six straight conference titles from 2008-13.

“It is embarrassing and sad to be in the situation we currently are, but that’s what we have now, and we need to deal with it,” Leon said. “We keep making mistakes at the beginning or end of games that are causing us to lose. There are no excuses because at the end of the day it’s 11 versus 11 on the field.”