Ceres High's and Patterson's varsity girls soccer teams are battling for the Western Athletic Conference's third and final playoff berth.
The Bulldogs lost ground after being shut out 2-0 by the Tigers last Wednesday on the FieldTurf at Patterson Community Stadium.
"I'm happy with the effort,' Ceres High head coach Randy Cerny said. "We just came up short."
The Bulldogs dropped to 2-4-2 in the WAC. The Tigers improved to 3-3-2 in league play.
The two teams tied 0-0 at Bulldog Stadium earlier this season.
With the wind at its back, Patterson scored twice in the final 20 minutes of last week's key meeting. Home-field advantage was key. The Tigers are used to competing on a fast, playing surface.
Ceres High goalkeeper Jamie Beck made 11 saves.
Beck and her Bulldog teammates remained upbeat during the bus ride home.
"I'm very proud of the way my girls played," Cerny said. "There's nothing we could have done differently."
The Bulldogs still have an outside shot at qualifying for the playoffs.
"We have a chance to do what no other girls soccer team from Ceres High has done," Cerny said. "We'd have to win out and get some help from somebody."
Ceres High will close out the WAC regular season next week. The Bulldogs will play at Livingston on May 2 and host to Central Valley on May 4.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Ceres High School's junior-varsity girls soccer team tasted defeat for the first time in league play last week.
Host Patterson won 3-2 on Wednesday and moved into a tie for second place with the Bulldogs.
The Tigers (5-1-4) snapped Ceres High's nine-game unbeaten streak. The loss benefits first-place Livingston, which has built an insurmountable point lead in the WAC standings.
"The girls are bummed," Bulldogs head coach Javier Mercado said. "I told them we'll learn from this and move on."
Ceres High's Jacqueline Gonzales and Cecilia Carretero each scored one goal against Patterson.
The Bulldogs lost ground after being shut out 2-0 by the Tigers last Wednesday on the FieldTurf at Patterson Community Stadium.
"I'm happy with the effort,' Ceres High head coach Randy Cerny said. "We just came up short."
The Bulldogs dropped to 2-4-2 in the WAC. The Tigers improved to 3-3-2 in league play.
The two teams tied 0-0 at Bulldog Stadium earlier this season.
With the wind at its back, Patterson scored twice in the final 20 minutes of last week's key meeting. Home-field advantage was key. The Tigers are used to competing on a fast, playing surface.
Ceres High goalkeeper Jamie Beck made 11 saves.
Beck and her Bulldog teammates remained upbeat during the bus ride home.
"I'm very proud of the way my girls played," Cerny said. "There's nothing we could have done differently."
The Bulldogs still have an outside shot at qualifying for the playoffs.
"We have a chance to do what no other girls soccer team from Ceres High has done," Cerny said. "We'd have to win out and get some help from somebody."
Ceres High will close out the WAC regular season next week. The Bulldogs will play at Livingston on May 2 and host to Central Valley on May 4.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Ceres High School's junior-varsity girls soccer team tasted defeat for the first time in league play last week.
Host Patterson won 3-2 on Wednesday and moved into a tie for second place with the Bulldogs.
The Tigers (5-1-4) snapped Ceres High's nine-game unbeaten streak. The loss benefits first-place Livingston, which has built an insurmountable point lead in the WAC standings.
"The girls are bummed," Bulldogs head coach Javier Mercado said. "I told them we'll learn from this and move on."
Ceres High's Jacqueline Gonzales and Cecilia Carretero each scored one goal against Patterson.
