Rain poured down as the members of Ceres High's and Central Valley's varsity girls soccer teams completed warm-up drills before the start of their Valley Oak League affair on Monday, April 12 at Bulldog Stadium.
The 80-minute crosstown battle ended in a 1-1 tie. The soggy field slowed the pace of the game.
"It's a little disappointing because we had a chance to win," Ceres High head coach Dominic Figueroa said. "We didn't finish."
Leah Rose, a fourth-year starter, gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute when she scored from close-range.
Ceres High teammate Estefania Hermosillo's pass rolled off Rose's chest, hit her right knee and somehow found its way past Hawk goalkeeper Elizabeth Amaya thanks in large part to the wet field.
"It went right through her legs," Rose said. "I was happy with that one."
Two minutes later, Lizette Covarrubias and Simi Talawan teamed up for the game-tying goal.
Talawan headed in Covarrubias' perfectly-placed cornerkick.
"Me and Lizette have been playing together since we were kids," Simi said. "Every header that I've had, it's always been her assist."
Ceres High suffered a costly letdown.
"We got a little too comfortable and lost focus for a second," Rose said. "It was a little scary the last few minutes. It was nerve racking."
Added Figueroa: "At that point, you're hoping to hold on."
Central Valley threatened several times late in the game.
The Bulldogs were happy to escape with a draw because they could have lost.
"That would have hurt bad," Figueroa said.
Ceres High's Nichole Fitch tallied nine saves.
The Bulldogs have amassed three wins, three losses and one tie against the Hawks during the crosstown series.
Both teams entered last week's game with identical 2-5 records in VOL play.
"This is my fourth year playing Central Valley and I still get nervous every time," Rose said.
JV Hawks dominate
Central Valley High School's junior-varsity girls soccer team shut out crosstown rival Ceres High 4-0 on Monday, April 12 at Bulldog Stadium.
"I felt pretty confident we'd handle our business," Hawks head coach Chris Meshach said. "Not to sound arrogant, but we got a strong group."
Central Valley moved to 9-6 on the year and 4-3 in the Valley Oak League.
The Bulldogs dropped to 15-1 in conference play.
Clarissa Ochoa, Kayla Meshach, Mariana Rodriguez and Catrina Castillo all scored once for the Hawks.
Central Valley goalkeeper Erykah Magana made eight saves.
The Hawks handled the upset-minded Bulldogs.
The 80-minute crosstown battle ended in a 1-1 tie. The soggy field slowed the pace of the game.
"It's a little disappointing because we had a chance to win," Ceres High head coach Dominic Figueroa said. "We didn't finish."
Leah Rose, a fourth-year starter, gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute when she scored from close-range.
Ceres High teammate Estefania Hermosillo's pass rolled off Rose's chest, hit her right knee and somehow found its way past Hawk goalkeeper Elizabeth Amaya thanks in large part to the wet field.
"It went right through her legs," Rose said. "I was happy with that one."
Two minutes later, Lizette Covarrubias and Simi Talawan teamed up for the game-tying goal.
Talawan headed in Covarrubias' perfectly-placed cornerkick.
"Me and Lizette have been playing together since we were kids," Simi said. "Every header that I've had, it's always been her assist."
Ceres High suffered a costly letdown.
"We got a little too comfortable and lost focus for a second," Rose said. "It was a little scary the last few minutes. It was nerve racking."
Added Figueroa: "At that point, you're hoping to hold on."
Central Valley threatened several times late in the game.
The Bulldogs were happy to escape with a draw because they could have lost.
"That would have hurt bad," Figueroa said.
Ceres High's Nichole Fitch tallied nine saves.
The Bulldogs have amassed three wins, three losses and one tie against the Hawks during the crosstown series.
Both teams entered last week's game with identical 2-5 records in VOL play.
"This is my fourth year playing Central Valley and I still get nervous every time," Rose said.
JV Hawks dominate
Central Valley High School's junior-varsity girls soccer team shut out crosstown rival Ceres High 4-0 on Monday, April 12 at Bulldog Stadium.
"I felt pretty confident we'd handle our business," Hawks head coach Chris Meshach said. "Not to sound arrogant, but we got a strong group."
Central Valley moved to 9-6 on the year and 4-3 in the Valley Oak League.
The Bulldogs dropped to 15-1 in conference play.
Clarissa Ochoa, Kayla Meshach, Mariana Rodriguez and Catrina Castillo all scored once for the Hawks.
Central Valley goalkeeper Erykah Magana made eight saves.
The Hawks handled the upset-minded Bulldogs.
