The Ceres High varsity boys soccer team kept its playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Valley Oak League rival Sonora on Thursday at Dunlavy Field.
"It got very physical in the second half," Bulldogs assistant coach Randy Cerny said. "I was just worried they were going to find a way to get one in. But we held them."
David Estrada provided the scoring with two goals, and Kyle Cerny, Aron Mejia, Erik Orozco and Justin Breckenridge led the way on defense for fourth-place Ceres (5-5-2).
Kyle Cerny tallied 11 saves before exiting with a left knee injury, sustained during a collision with 10 minutes to play.
"He got the majority of his saves in the second half," assistant coach Cerny said. "He played inspired back there."
Joel Thomazin led the sixth-place Wildcats (3-7-1) with 10 saves. Victor Muniz scored his team's lone goal.
If Ceres upsets first-place Manteca and third-place Central Valley, and the Hawks lose to seventh-place Weston Ranch this week, the Bulldogs will qualify for the playoffs.
"We're going to go out and play our best this week. And see if it all works out," Cerny said. "We've been competitive in most of our games. We're really happy with that. We're a young team. We only lose three players to graduation. There's no telling what can happen next year."
Estrada collected his team-leading 10th and 11th goals of the season as Ceres built a 2-1 lead in the first half. He converted a 25-yard free kick and finished from 25 yards out off a cross pass from Jose Meza after Muniz evened the score.
The two teams played to a scoreless tie after intermission.
"It was very competitive," Cerny said. "Both goalies made some outstanding saves."
"It got very physical in the second half," Bulldogs assistant coach Randy Cerny said. "I was just worried they were going to find a way to get one in. But we held them."
David Estrada provided the scoring with two goals, and Kyle Cerny, Aron Mejia, Erik Orozco and Justin Breckenridge led the way on defense for fourth-place Ceres (5-5-2).
Kyle Cerny tallied 11 saves before exiting with a left knee injury, sustained during a collision with 10 minutes to play.
"He got the majority of his saves in the second half," assistant coach Cerny said. "He played inspired back there."
Joel Thomazin led the sixth-place Wildcats (3-7-1) with 10 saves. Victor Muniz scored his team's lone goal.
If Ceres upsets first-place Manteca and third-place Central Valley, and the Hawks lose to seventh-place Weston Ranch this week, the Bulldogs will qualify for the playoffs.
"We're going to go out and play our best this week. And see if it all works out," Cerny said. "We've been competitive in most of our games. We're really happy with that. We're a young team. We only lose three players to graduation. There's no telling what can happen next year."
Estrada collected his team-leading 10th and 11th goals of the season as Ceres built a 2-1 lead in the first half. He converted a 25-yard free kick and finished from 25 yards out off a cross pass from Jose Meza after Muniz evened the score.
The two teams played to a scoreless tie after intermission.
"It was very competitive," Cerny said. "Both goalies made some outstanding saves."
