East Union dealt Ceres High its first loss of the season in varsity boys soccer on Thursday.

The 6-0 road loss snapped the Bulldogs' nine-game unbeaten streak.

Ceres High competed shorthanded as five starters did not make the trip to Manteca, including Ulises Diaz, Max Lopez, Erik Montanez, Adrian Espinoza and Alexis Nava.

"It would have been more competitive if we had everybody," Bulldogs head coach Miguel Saldate said. "We were missing players because of night school and injuries."

Ceres High and East Union battled in 105-degree heat.

Officials stopped the game an additional two times for water breaks.

"We only had two subs," Saldate said. "It (hot weather) just drains your players quick."

Bulldog goalkeeper Martin Reyes suffered a knee injury while colliding with an East Union player in the 10th minute. Ceres High trailed by just one goal when he exited the contest.

"He didn't play the rest of the game," Saldate said.

Dawgs 1, Patriots 1
Ceres High salvaged a 1-1 tie while battling Beyer on Sept. 8 in Modesto.

Brandon Garcia scored the game-tying goal 10 minutes into the second half.

The Bulldogs trailed 1-0 at intermission.
Reyes totaled six saves.

"It was a good game," Saldate said. "We had more chances to score than they did. We couldn't score."

Espinoza, Nava and Andrott Alvarez were sidelined with injuries.

The Bulldogs collected seven wins, one loss and two ties during the preseason.

"We could have done better in certain games," Saldate said.

Ceres High will begin Western Athletic Conference play this week.

The Bulldogs will travel to Los Banos today.

The contest will get underway at 5:30 p.m.

"Once we start league, it's going to be different," Saldate said. "It's going to be harder because of the schools we'll be playing. That's something we talked to them about."

Central Valley hoping to improve
Central Valley High School's varsity boys soccer team wrapped up its preseason schedule this past week with a pair of hard-to-stomach losses.

The Hawks dropped to 4-6-2 on the year after falling twice by one goal.

Central Valley has advanced to the section finals four times, qualified for the playoffs eight years in a row and captured six conference titles under head coach Omar Leon's guidance.

"We better start winning some games, otherwise we're going to set new records, but not the good type," Leon said.

Central Valley failed to score in losing 1-0 to Downey on Thursday in Ceres.

Hawk goalkeeper Enrique Garcia had six saves.

Angel Lopez and Angel Aguilar both scored once during Central Valley's 3-2 loss at Oakdale on Sept. 8.

Garcia tallied eight saves in defeat.

The Mustangs broke a 2-2 tie in the final minute.

Central Valley will play at Pacheco today at 4 p.m.

"We have hit (rock) bottom," Leon said. "We can only improve from now on. Concentration is a must now, especially at the end of games."