Central Valley’s boys soccer team qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
The Hawks earned the Central California Conference’s second postseason berth this past week.
“We’re back where we should be,” said Horatio Garcia, head coach. “They met my expectations. We still have an opportunity to grow as a team.”
Central Valley defeated host Merced 5-0 in CCC play on Feb. 2.
The Hawks outscored the Bears 3-0 in the second half.
“It’s a game we should have won,” Garcia said. “We weren’t really focused in the first half.”
Fernando Cano and Alexis Cervantes led the way with two goals apiece.
Alberto Sarabia had one goal.
Central Valley had its Senior Night spoiled by conference-rival Patterson on Friday.
The Tigers battled back for a 2-1 win over the Hawks.
“It was a competitive game,” Garcia said. “Both teams played well. We could have won.”
Sarabia scored Central Valley’s lone goal five minutes into the game.
Alex Bautista assisted.
The Hawks trailed 2-1 at the break.
“We made two critical mistakes on defense and they were able to capitalize,” Garcia said.
Central Valley goalkeeper Gael Navarro finished with four saves.
Hawk upperclassmen Cano, Bautista, Navarro, Fernando Cano, Isaiah Castillo, Dylan Jacobson, Anthony Lopez, Heriberto Paz and Isaiah Urrutia were honored during their final regular-season home match.
CHS girls make playoffs
Ceres High’s girls soccer team faced a must-win situation on the final day of the Western Athletic Conference season.
Focused on the task at hand, the Bulldogs secured a berth to the playoffs with a 6-1 victory over Grace Davis on Senior Night this past Wednesday in Ceres.
Ceres High improved to 11-6-1 overall and compiled an 8-4-1 record against WAC competition.
The top three teams in league advanced to the postseason.
Beyer, Ceres High and Mountain House placed first, second and third, respectively.
“If we would have lost to Davis, we would have finished in fourth place,” said Hannah Menk, second-year leader of the Bulldogs. “We wouldn’t have made playoffs.”
“They played their hearts out,” she added. “They executed what we’re good at. We’ve scored a lot of goals off set plays.”
Ceres High’s Kristina Corbin and Arianna Diaz both tallied one goal and one assist versus Grace Davis.
Natalie Corbin, Paris Garcia, Andrea Hernandez and Alyssa Quinones all scored once.
Llian Blevins totaled five saves.
The Bulldogs outscored the Spartans 4-1 in the second half.
Ceres High led 2-0 at intermission.
Bulldog upperclassmen Garcia, Hernandez, Quinones, Natalie Cabrales, Monica Castillon and Yaresli Lopez were recognized during their final regular-season home game.
“They really contributed to the program,” Menk said. “They worked hard.”
Ceres High amassed a 7-1-1 record en route to a second-place finish in the WAC South standings last season. Playoffs were postponed for all sports during the 2020-21 school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s exciting to go to playoffs for the first time in my career,” Menk said. “A lot of people didn’t think we’d be as strong as we were this year because we lost some seniors.”
