Ceres High School's varsity boys soccer team has qualified for playoffs six years in a row.
The Bulldogs kept their 2014 postseason hopes by winning two of three games.
"We have talent," head coach Miguel Saldate said. "But we're not focusing. The kids just have to get it together and play as a team."
Ceres High (6-3-1, 19 points) remained in third place in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs and fourth-place Livingston Wolves (4-2-3, 15 points) trail Patterson (9-1-0, 27 points) and Central Valley (6-0-3, 21 points) in the WAC standings.
The top three teams will be invited to the playoffs next month.
Ceres High's final two league opponents are Central Valley and Pacheco.
"We have to win twice and need Livingston to lose at least once to have a chance," said Saldate, whose squad compiled a 1-1 record against the Wolves this year. "It's not going to be easy, especially having these obstacles in front of us."
Ceres High pulled away for a 5-1 win over El Capitan on Monday in Merced.
The Bulldogs held a slim 1-0 lead at intermission.
"We touched the ball more in the second half," Saldate said. "That helped us a lot. It was very windy."
Cristopher Torres collected two goals and three assists.
Ulises Diaz added one goal and one assist.
Jose Benites and Juan Jimenez both scored once.
Martin Reyes tallied six saves.
Ceres High edged Los Banos 2-0 on Oct. 13 at Bulldog Stadium.
The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers 8-0 on the road earlier this season.
Torres and Cesar Espinoza tallied goals in the 60th and 70th minutes, respectively, for Ceres High.
Cristian Cabrales collected one assist.
Reyes totaled eight saves.
Ceres High and Los Banos battled to a scoreless tie in the opening half.
"It wasn't an easy game," Saldate said. "We underestimated them."
Patterson shut out visiting Ceres High 2-0 on Wednesday.
Patterson secured a season sweep of Ceres High as it won the first meeting, 3-0.
Reyes had nine saves in defeat.
Andres Herrera and Jordy Corral accounted for Patterson's goals.
Jose Morales had one assist.
Carlos Moreno and Jose Rodriguez combined to make three saves while splitting time at goalkeeper.
Ceres High's David Reyes, Cristian Sotero, Michael Quintanilla and Adrian Espinoza were assessed red cards during the game. Reyes, Sotero, Quintanilla and Espinoza were not eligible to play against El Capitan.
Moreno and Oscar Toledo were also ejected from last week's game.
"I thought we were going to win like we did against Livingston," said Saldate, whose team avenged a 4-0 loss with a 3-1 win over the Wolves on Oct. 8. "It didn't happen. The kids lost focus. They were upset because we were losing. Patterson has a good team."
