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CV boys continue dominant streak in league play
Hawks unbeaten through six games
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Robert Perez and Central Valley High Schools varsity boys soccer team will travel to Merced to face newcomers El Capitan today at 4 p.m. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Omar Leon, head coach of Central Valley High School's varsity boys soccer team, shuffled his lineup during this past week's meeting with Los Banos.

The Hawks dominated from beginning to end in posting a 4-1 win over the Tigers on Oct. 6 in Ceres.

"Everybody played at least 40 minutes," he said. "Everybody contributed to the victory."

Jesus Mendoza, Angel Aguilar and Giovanni Avalos led Central Valley with one goal and one assist apiece.

Hector Mendoza tallied one goal.

Adrian Calvo and Ramon Ruiz split time at goalkeeper.

Ruiz made two saves in the second half.

Los Banos goalie Gamaliel Ortiz had 15 saves.

The Hawks' starting lineup versus the Tigers (1-0-5 Western Athletic Conference) consisted of normal and new starters.

Avalos, a reserve forward, started as did third-string goalie Calvo.

"We tried different players in different positions," Leon said. "A couple of the kids played really well. They hardly ever play."

Central Valley extended its unbeaten streak in WAC play to 22 matches. The dominant run started in 2012.

The four-time WAC champion Hawks (11-1-5, 4-0-2) want to annex their seventh-straight league title.

Central Valley (14 points) trails first-place Patterson (6-1-0, 18 points) in the conference standings.

Ceres High (4-2-1, 13 points), Livingston (3-2-2, 11 points) and Pacheco (3-3-1, 10 points) are also having successful seasons.

Ceres High defeated Livingston 3-1 last week. The Bulldogs lost 4-0 to the Wolves earlier this year.

"Teams that were supposed to lose didn't," Leon said. "We're back in the race. It's still anybody's championship. We knew it was going to be a very competitive league."

The top three teams in the WAC qualify for the playoffs next month.

"We should be in a better position," Leon said. "But we still have a chance. It's premature to determine which team is going to win the title. There are still a lot of games left. We have what it takes. But we should be doing better."