Ceres High School's varsity boys soccer team faced off against defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV champion Vista del Lago in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.
The eighth-seeded Bulldogs put up a fight for a half before losing 2-0 to the No. 1 Eagles Thursday night in Folsom.
Vista del Lago is closing in on its third consecutive section title.
"We knew what to expect because of their previous years," Ceres High head coach Javier Mercado said. "It was a very close game. We could have won. The kids are very disappointed."
Junior goalkeeper Abel Reyes made 10 saves for the Bulldogs, who posted a 9-5-1 overall record and placed third in the Western Athletic Conference (7-4-1) this year.
Cody Sherfy and Matt Raymond both scored once for Sierra Valley Conference champion Vista del Lago (12-2-2, 9-1-2).
Alex Ford had one assist.
Brandon Lee made two saves.
"Vista del Lago has a really good team," Mercado said. "I still think (crosstown-rival/Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoff qualifier) Central Valley is better."
The Bulldogs and Eagles battled to a scoreless tie in the opening half.
Vista del Lago tallied goals in the 50th and 75th minutes to dash Ceres High's upset bid.
"We matched up against them pretty well," Mercado said. "We made two mistakes, defensively, and they capitalized. We could have done better."
Tomas Rocha, Cristopher Torres, Cristian Cabrales, Abel Reyes, Alex Lepe and Gustavo Villalon will fill key roles while trying to lead Ceres High to its fifth straight postseason appearance in 2013.
The Bulldogs captured the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV crown in 2009.
"We're going to have a stronger team next year," Mercado said. "We'll go deeper into the playoffs."
The eighth-seeded Bulldogs put up a fight for a half before losing 2-0 to the No. 1 Eagles Thursday night in Folsom.
Vista del Lago is closing in on its third consecutive section title.
"We knew what to expect because of their previous years," Ceres High head coach Javier Mercado said. "It was a very close game. We could have won. The kids are very disappointed."
Junior goalkeeper Abel Reyes made 10 saves for the Bulldogs, who posted a 9-5-1 overall record and placed third in the Western Athletic Conference (7-4-1) this year.
Cody Sherfy and Matt Raymond both scored once for Sierra Valley Conference champion Vista del Lago (12-2-2, 9-1-2).
Alex Ford had one assist.
Brandon Lee made two saves.
"Vista del Lago has a really good team," Mercado said. "I still think (crosstown-rival/Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoff qualifier) Central Valley is better."
The Bulldogs and Eagles battled to a scoreless tie in the opening half.
Vista del Lago tallied goals in the 50th and 75th minutes to dash Ceres High's upset bid.
"We matched up against them pretty well," Mercado said. "We made two mistakes, defensively, and they capitalized. We could have done better."
Tomas Rocha, Cristopher Torres, Cristian Cabrales, Abel Reyes, Alex Lepe and Gustavo Villalon will fill key roles while trying to lead Ceres High to its fifth straight postseason appearance in 2013.
The Bulldogs captured the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV crown in 2009.
"We're going to have a stronger team next year," Mercado said. "We'll go deeper into the playoffs."
