The Ceres High varsity boys soccer team finished first in a field of eight at the Spartan Classic, held at Grace Davis High School in Modesto on Friday and Saturday.
"I'm very pleased with the team's performance for the weekend," said Ceres coach Joe Byrne, whose team improved to 7-2-1 overall. "We played four strong games."
The Bulldogs beat Golden Valley, Modesto High, Pitman and Turlock en route to compiling a 4-0 record.
"They have very skilled players," said Golden Valley coach Lenny Lial.
Ceres defeated Golden Valley 5-4 in penalty kicks in the championship game on Saturday.
Hector Serrato scored the game-winning goal. His left-footed shot sailed past Golden Valley goalie Alex Torres and into the right corner of the goal.
Ryan Arnsberg had a chance to extend the shoot-out but missed badly after showboating. He waved to his teammates prior to slipping and skying the ball over the cross bar.
Both teams made four of their first five penalty kicks.
Ceres' Fernando Vargas, Luis Olivares, Genaro Arana and Victor Perez scored. Marcus Castrejon's shot was blocked by Torres.
Carlos Ferreira, Chue Moua, Michael Ruelan and Hugo Mora scored for the Cougars. Aaron Vega's shot bounced off the left post.
Ceres and Golden Valley played to a 1-1 tie in regulation.
Arnsberg scored from two yards out in the 14th minute off a pass from Jose Reynoso.
Ceres evened the score in the 40th minute. Perez converted a penalty kick.
Ceres was awarded the free kick after Arana beat several defenders and was tackled in the box by Golden Valley's goalie.
"We were trapping a little bit too much and their forwards adjusted to it," Lial said.
The Bulldogs edged the Modesto High Panthers 1-0 Saturday afternoon.
Neither team scored in the first half.
Vargas scored the game-winning goal from two yards out in the 50th minute. He knocked in Arana's crossing pass.
"There was only seconds left in the game when he scored," Byrne said.
Ceres edged Pitman 3-2 Friday afternoon.
Perez scored twice and Arana scored once for the Bulldogs, who outscored the Pride 2-1 in the second half.
Perez converted a penalty kick in the 30th minute.
Arana beat three defenders and scored from 10 yards out in the 33rd minute off an assist from Edwin Chavez.
The game was tied at 1-all at intermission.
Pitman scored in the third minute.
Perez evened the score in the eighth minute. He booted in Arana's crossing pass.
Ceres shut out Turlock 1-0 Friday morning.
Perez scored the game-winning goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. He dribbled past three defenders and beat Turlock's goalkeeper in the 47th minute.
Arana delivered the perfect pass.
Tokay 3, Ceres 2
Tokay handed Ceres its second loss of the season on Thursday in Ceres.
"We played really poorly the first 20 minutes," Byrne said.
Tokay led 2-1 at halftime.
Guillermo Menjvar scored in the fourth minute.
Erick Maldonaldo scored in the 20th minute.
Ceres trimmed Tokay's lead to one as Perez headed in Arana's crossing pass in the 30th minute.
Each team scored once in the second half.
Arana evened the score in the 50th minute. He scored from 12 yards out off a pass from Perez.
Menjvar scored the game-winning goal in the 55th minute.
Alan Cerecero, Michael Link and Angel Pimentel each had an assist for the Tigers.
Tokay's Jordan Lawley had five saves in goal.
Ceres used three goalkeepers.
Jose Montanez had two saves. He left the game in the 20th minute after bruising his thigh during a collision.
Pierre Mercado had two saves. He was relegated to the bench in the 55th minute.
Ricardo Castellanos had one save in relief.
Ceres 3, Sonora 2
Ceres won its season opener at Walter White School on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Alvara Zuniga put Ceres ahead 1-0 in the first minute. He scored off an assist from Serrato.
Sonora's Dar Snedeger evened the score in the 40th minute.
Ceres outscored Sonora 2-1 in the second half.
Perez converted a penalty kick in the 50th minute.
Arana scored in the 70th minute off a pass from Perez.
JV Dawgs tie
The Ceres High and Tokay JV boys soccer teams played to a 1-1 tie in Ceres on Thursday.
"We should have won," said Ceres coach Armando Martinez.
Tokay tied the game in the 70th minute.
Ceres' Samuel Saldate scored the game's first goal early in the first half. He scored in the 10th minute off a pass from Jose Rodriguez.
Edgardo Yepez had 12 saves in goal for the Bulldogs. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
"I'm very pleased with the team's performance for the weekend," said Ceres coach Joe Byrne, whose team improved to 7-2-1 overall. "We played four strong games."
The Bulldogs beat Golden Valley, Modesto High, Pitman and Turlock en route to compiling a 4-0 record.
"They have very skilled players," said Golden Valley coach Lenny Lial.
Ceres defeated Golden Valley 5-4 in penalty kicks in the championship game on Saturday.
Hector Serrato scored the game-winning goal. His left-footed shot sailed past Golden Valley goalie Alex Torres and into the right corner of the goal.
Ryan Arnsberg had a chance to extend the shoot-out but missed badly after showboating. He waved to his teammates prior to slipping and skying the ball over the cross bar.
Both teams made four of their first five penalty kicks.
Ceres' Fernando Vargas, Luis Olivares, Genaro Arana and Victor Perez scored. Marcus Castrejon's shot was blocked by Torres.
Carlos Ferreira, Chue Moua, Michael Ruelan and Hugo Mora scored for the Cougars. Aaron Vega's shot bounced off the left post.
Ceres and Golden Valley played to a 1-1 tie in regulation.
Arnsberg scored from two yards out in the 14th minute off a pass from Jose Reynoso.
Ceres evened the score in the 40th minute. Perez converted a penalty kick.
Ceres was awarded the free kick after Arana beat several defenders and was tackled in the box by Golden Valley's goalie.
"We were trapping a little bit too much and their forwards adjusted to it," Lial said.
The Bulldogs edged the Modesto High Panthers 1-0 Saturday afternoon.
Neither team scored in the first half.
Vargas scored the game-winning goal from two yards out in the 50th minute. He knocked in Arana's crossing pass.
"There was only seconds left in the game when he scored," Byrne said.
Ceres edged Pitman 3-2 Friday afternoon.
Perez scored twice and Arana scored once for the Bulldogs, who outscored the Pride 2-1 in the second half.
Perez converted a penalty kick in the 30th minute.
Arana beat three defenders and scored from 10 yards out in the 33rd minute off an assist from Edwin Chavez.
The game was tied at 1-all at intermission.
Pitman scored in the third minute.
Perez evened the score in the eighth minute. He booted in Arana's crossing pass.
Ceres shut out Turlock 1-0 Friday morning.
Perez scored the game-winning goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. He dribbled past three defenders and beat Turlock's goalkeeper in the 47th minute.
Arana delivered the perfect pass.
Tokay 3, Ceres 2
Tokay handed Ceres its second loss of the season on Thursday in Ceres.
"We played really poorly the first 20 minutes," Byrne said.
Tokay led 2-1 at halftime.
Guillermo Menjvar scored in the fourth minute.
Erick Maldonaldo scored in the 20th minute.
Ceres trimmed Tokay's lead to one as Perez headed in Arana's crossing pass in the 30th minute.
Each team scored once in the second half.
Arana evened the score in the 50th minute. He scored from 12 yards out off a pass from Perez.
Menjvar scored the game-winning goal in the 55th minute.
Alan Cerecero, Michael Link and Angel Pimentel each had an assist for the Tigers.
Tokay's Jordan Lawley had five saves in goal.
Ceres used three goalkeepers.
Jose Montanez had two saves. He left the game in the 20th minute after bruising his thigh during a collision.
Pierre Mercado had two saves. He was relegated to the bench in the 55th minute.
Ricardo Castellanos had one save in relief.
Ceres 3, Sonora 2
Ceres won its season opener at Walter White School on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Alvara Zuniga put Ceres ahead 1-0 in the first minute. He scored off an assist from Serrato.
Sonora's Dar Snedeger evened the score in the 40th minute.
Ceres outscored Sonora 2-1 in the second half.
Perez converted a penalty kick in the 50th minute.
Arana scored in the 70th minute off a pass from Perez.
JV Dawgs tie
The Ceres High and Tokay JV boys soccer teams played to a 1-1 tie in Ceres on Thursday.
"We should have won," said Ceres coach Armando Martinez.
Tokay tied the game in the 70th minute.
Ceres' Samuel Saldate scored the game's first goal early in the first half. He scored in the 10th minute off a pass from Jose Rodriguez.
Edgardo Yepez had 12 saves in goal for the Bulldogs. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
