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Girls soccer squad ends losing streak
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Golden Valley escaped with a 2-1 win over the Ceres High girls soccer team in Merced on March 9. The Cougars weren't as fortunate during the second meeting thanks in part to a strong defensive effort from the Bulldogs.

Led by Brittany Randle, Natali Martinez, Valerie Chan and Michelle Guzman, Ceres beat Golden Valley 2-0 at Walter White School in Ceres on Thursday and snapped a five-game losing streak.

"Ceres really outplayed us both games," said Golden Valley coach Brian Amfahr. "We got lucky the first game."

The Bulldogs improved to 2-7-1 in the Central California Conference standings, 7-9-1 overall.

The Cougars fell to 4-4-2 in the CCC.

"The girls played a lot better ball in the second half," Cerny said.

Ceres scored both of its goals after halftime.

Janet Cortes sent a free kick into the box, Myrna Cadenas collected it and fired a shot off the right post. Janneli Arreygue, a freshman center midfielder, tapped in Cadenas' miss in the 53rd minute for a 1-0 lead. Arreygue failed to convert a perfect cross pass from Cortes in the 42nd minute.

Amy Kaur scored Ceres' second goal. She scored off a rebound in the 74th minute. Cortes' free kick from 30 yards out bounced off the crossbar and straight to Kaur.

"They outhusted us," Amfahr said. "They deserved to win."

Ceres goalie Yessenia Medina made 14 saves in the game.

Golden Valley goalie Kathryn Koury had seven saves.

"We had a couple of opportunities but we didn't finish," Amfahr said.

Johansen 3, Ceres 1

The Vikings defeated the Bulldogs 3-1 in Ceres on Tuesday, April 6.

Ceres' goalie helped keep the game close. Medina had 14 saves.

Vanessa Stanfield scored three times and Melissa Gagliardi, Katrina Brand and Kayla Pierce each had one assist for Johansen, which improved to 9-0 in the Central California Conference standings.

Julieta Romero scored for Ceres, which fell to 1-7-1 in the CCC.

All four goals were scored in the first half.

"We played them 0-0 in the second half," Cerny said.

Stanfield gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

Romero scored an unassisted goal in the eighth minute to even the score at 1-all.

Stanfield scored twice in the span of 10 minutes late in the first half.

Johansen goalies Hailee Lanker and Amanda Peek each had one save. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier