Ceres High’s boys soccer program extended its unbeaten streak to five games last week.
Central Valley beat one of its two opponents.
“I’m not surprised,” Bulldogs’ head coach Gilbert Zamora said while talking about his team’s recent run of success. “We have good talent. Our coaching staff is making adjustments. If you’re losing, you’re working harder to get better.”
Ceres High improved to 6-6-4 overall and climbed to fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 4-3-2 mark after upsetting Johansen 2-1 on Thursday in Modesto.
The Bulldogs avenged a 2-0 loss.
“The kids have been playing great together as a team,” Zamora said.
Gabrial Farias accounted for both of the Bulldogs’ goals.
Leo Baez and David Tapia chipped in with one assist apiece.
Freshman goalkeeper Johan Lopez totaled five saves.
Ceres High exacted revenge with a 1-0 win against Livingston on Jan. 20 at CUSD Stadium.
The Bulldogs lost the first meeting, 3-1.
“We get better and better every time we play,” Zamora said. “We haven’t been making mistakes.”
Jesus Baez accounted for the game’s lone goal.
Lopez made two saves at goalie.
Led by Fernando Galvan, Jayson Trevino, Jesus Baez and Jesus Torrez, Ceres High has limited its last six opponents to just a total of three goals.
“We made adjustments starting with training sessions,” Zamora said. “We built a strong defense. Defense wins games.”
The Bulldogs kept their postseason hopes alive last week.
“Our goal is to win as much as we can,” Zamora said. “We need to accumulate points. Of course, we want to make playoffs. But we have to focus on one game at a time.”
Central Valley lost 1-0 to Pacheco on Thursday at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
The Hawks and Panthers battled to a 1-1 tie earlier this season.
“It came down to them wanting it more than us,” Central Valley head coach Horacio Garcia said. “It was a tough game. They’re a physical, aggressive team.”
The Hawks dropped to 5-9-6 overall and sixth place in the WAC with a 3-3-3 mark. Central Valley is vying for its third straight league title and 17th playoff berth in program history.
“Playoffs are still a possibility,” Garcia said. “We’re sitting in 18th place (in the Division-I rankings). Six of the teams in our league could make playoffs. This is the time we should be playing our best.”
Hawk goalkeeper Osvaldo Cisneros made two saves in defeat.
Central Valley lost by shutout for the eighth time this season.
“We weren’t able to create scoring opportunities,” Garcia said. “Nothing worked for us. That continues to be our main problem.”
The Hawks competed shorthanded against the Panthers as starters Benjamin Sanchez (wing), Manuel Iniguez (wing), Jayson Orque (attacking midfielder) and Julian Huaracha (defensive midfielder) were sidelined with injuries.
“I’m hoping we get them back at full-strength against Livingston.”
Central Valley defeated Grace Davis 6-0 on Jan. 20 in Ceres.
“Everything clicked,” Garcia said.
Alejandro Valencia led the Hawks in scoring with two goals.
Miguel Gutierrez added one goal and two assists.
Willy Camarena, Jayden Rodriguez and Pedro Venegas all contributed one goal.
Cisneros totaled one save.
GIRLS SOCCER
Central Valley’s girls soccer team continued its winning ways last week.
Ceres High lost back-to-back games.
“The girls are stepping up,” Hawks’ head coach Miguel Larranaga said. “They’re playing amazing.”
Central Valley extended its winning streak to six games with a 3-0 win at Pacheco on Thursday.
The Hawks improved to 10-4-2 overall and remained in second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with an 8-1-0 mark.
“We have a really good team,” Larranaga said. “They’re connecting with each other. Our challenge is to play (first-place) Beyer and beat them. Hopefully, we can get the win.”
Amirrah Cornielle, Aaralyn Jauregui and Ashley Juarez all scored one goal versus Pacheco.
Central Valley cruised to a 15-0 victory over Grace Davis on Jan. 20 at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
The Hawks won the first meeting, 5-0.
“I don’t know how that happened,” Larranaga said while talking about last week’s blowout win against the Spartans. “We played them earlier this season and it wasn’t that easy.”
Jauregui collected four goals and three assists against the Spartans last week.
Ayleen Apreza tallied two goals and one assist.
Jocelyn Rivera totaled two goals and one assist.
Cornielle, Juarez and Bella Ayala all contributed two goals.
Camila Orozco and Evelyn Rivera both had one assist.
Central Valley has been on a roll since dropping its conference opener 2-1 at Beyer.
The Hawks have outscored their last six league opponents, 38-0.
Cornielle, Juarez, Kenia Acevedo and Brianna Cuevas are Central Valley’s main defenders.
“We have a really good team,” Larranaga said. “We’re playing strong, especially my defense.”
Cornielle has filled in for Aaliyah Jauregui, who’s been sidelined with an ankle injury for the majority of the season.
“Aaliyah is still hurt,” Larranaga said. “She can barely walk. I hope she’ll be ready for playoffs. We really need her.”
Visiting Johansen dealt Ceres High its fourth straight loss.
The Bulldogs lost 4-0 to the Vikings on Thursday at CUSD Stadium.
Ceres High won the first meeting, 2-1.
The Bulldogs dropped to 3-11-2 overall and sixth place in the WAC standings (2-5-2).
Ceres High suffered a 2-1 road loss while battling Livingston on Jan. 20.
