By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Bulldogs beat LB in soccer, lose to Patterson
Host Ceres High will face El Capitan today at 5:30 p.m.
mortega .tiff
Miguel Ortega and Ceres Highs varsity boys soccer team secured a split in Western Athletic Conference play this past week. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Ceres High School's varsity boys soccer team won one of its two games during the opening week of the 2014 Western Athletic Conference season.

The Bulldogs improved to 6-2-0 on the year and 1-1-0 in the WAC standings.

Ceres High overcame a sluggish start and defeated host Los Banos 8-0 on Wednesday.

Cristopher Torres tallied three goals and two assists.

Cesar Espinoza collected two goals.

Ulises Diaz had one goal and two assists.

Cristian Cabrales and Andres Velasquez both scored once.

Osvaldo Carrillo chipped in with one assist.

Bulldog goalkeeper Martin Reyes totaled 14 saves.

Ceres High exploded for six goals during the final 40 minutes.

"We were overconfident in the first half," Bulldogs head coach Miguel Saldate said. "We explained to them what they needed to do-better passing. We touched the ball a little bit more in the second half."

Patterson and Ceres High secured the WAC's No. 2 and 3 playoff seeds in 2013, finishing behind undefeated Central Valley.

The Tigers and Bulldogs faced off on Sept. 15.

Visiting Patterson (9-1-0, 2-0-0) rolled to a 3-0 win against Ceres High.

"We made some mistakes," Saldate said. "They didn't."

Reyes made seven saves in defeat.

Speedy striker Andres Herrera led Patterson in scoring with two goals.

Marcos Melendez added one goal.

Jose Morales and Carlos Moreno contributed one assist each.

Moreno and Jose Rodriguez had four and two saves, respectively, while splitting time at goalkeeper.

"We knew they were going to be looking for him (Herrera)," Saldate said.

Patterson outshot Ceres High, 7-5.

The Bulldogs allowed two goals in the second half.

"We just couldn't finish," Saldate said. "They scored on our mistakes."