Central Valley’s junior-varsity boys soccer team overcame a sluggish start and pulled away for a 4-1 home win over crosstown-rival Ceres High on Dec. 7.

“We went into the game too confident,” Hawks’ fourth-year coach Horatio Garcia said. 

Unbeaten Central Valley improved to 3-0-1 on the year.

The Bulldogs dropped to 2-2-0 overall.

Four different Central Valley players scored against Ceres High, including Mauricio Perez, Carlos Loza, Adriel Ayala and Jesus Murillo.

Alexys Jimenez dished out one assist.

Hawk goalkeeper Gael Navarro totaled three saves.

Fernando Sosa accounted for Ceres High’s lone goal.

“Ceres played a really good in the first half,” Garcia said. “They were more aggressive. They were beating us to every 50-50 ball. They controlled the game. That was the dfference.”

The Bulldogs outscored the Hawks 1-0 during the opening half.

“I was frustrated with myself and my players,” Garcia said. “We weren’t playing to the level we normally play. We didn’t execute.”

Central Valley shut out Ceres High 4-0 after intermission.

“Everything completely changed for us,” Garcia said. “I just reminded the guys about the way we practice and how good they were. Luckily for us, we went back to how we play. We try to emulate what varsity does by creating plays from the back and controlling the game with possession.”

Central Valley will by vying for its fourth straight league title this winter.

The Hawks are competing in a different league.

Central Valley was moved from the Western Athletic Conference to the Central California Conference as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s realignment plan.

 “We’re trying to continue the success,” Garcia said.