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CHS booters extend winning streak
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Genaro Arana didn't get to play against the Downey Knights on Wednesday because he had to work.

On Friday, the senior midfielder helped lead the Ceres High boys soccer team past Johansen. He had a goal and an assist during the Bulldogs' 3-2 victory over the Vikings in Modesto.

"I don't think the game was as close as the final score indicated," said Ceres coach Joe Byrne. "We dominated possession, controlled the midfield and created a lot of good opportunities."

Victor Perez and Eduardo Aguilar each scored a goal, Cleo Payne had an assist and Ricardo Castellanos made five saves in goal for Ceres, which improved to 2-1 in the Modesto Metro Conference (MMC), 9-3-1 overall.

Frank Coelho had a goal and an assist, Bret Merchant scored once and Brad Merchant picked up an assist for Johansen, which fell to 2-1 in the MMC.

"We really didn't give them too many looks at goal," Byrne said. "We did a really good job shutting them down."

Ceres had a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.

Arana scored from 20 yards out off a crossing pass from Payne in the 13th minute.

In the 16th minute, Perez's curving cornerkick glanced off the goalkeeper's fingertips and went into the goal.

Arana sent a free kick into the box from 30 yards out and Aguilar headed the ball into the back of the net in the 23rd minute.

The Vikings scored twice in the span of 18 minutes in the second half.

Coelho scored on a breakaway in the 61st minute and Bret Merchant scored from five yards out with 2 minutes remaining.

Ceres 6, Downey 0

The Bulldogs shut out the Knights in Modesto.

Perez had four goals and two assists, Fernando Vargas had two goals and one assist and Aguilar, Alvaro Zuniga and Hector Serrato each had an assist for Ceres, which led 3-0 at intermission.

"We completely controlled the game even though it took us 17 minutes to put in our first goal," Byrne said.

Perez scored from 10 yards out in the 17th minute off an assist from Vargas, and from 12 yards out in the 27th minute off an assist from Zuniga.

Vargas scored from 16 yards out in the 34th minute off a pass from Perez.

In the second half, Perez scored on a header in the 42nd minute and from 10 yards out in the 48th minute.

Vargas beat several defenders and scored from 12 yards out in the 68th minute.

The Bulldogs play host to the Davis Spartans at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park today at 5 p.m. and at Beyer on Friday at 4 p.m.

JV undefeated in league

Ceres beat Johansen and tied Downey last week.

"Now they're playing as a team," said Ceres coach Armando Martinez.

The Bulldogs improved to 2-0-1 in the MMC, 5-2-1 overall.

Ceres scored five goals in the second half and posted an 8-0 win over the Vikings in Modesto on Friday.

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs tied the Knights 2-2 in Modesto.

Downey evened the score in the 78th minute.

"We had them," Martinez said. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier