SALINAS VALLEY — One win on the field and one win by forfeit earned the Soledad Aztec boys soccer team the Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division Championship.
The Aztecs finished with a 10-2-0 division record and were 14-2-3 overall.
Soledad began the week earning a win by forfeit against Pacific Collegiate on Feb. 9, beating the visiting Carmel Padres, 4-1, last Wednesday and losing 3-1 to the Rancho San Juan Trailblazers on Friday in Salinas.
“This week we clinched playoffs and won our first league title in over 10 years,” said Soledad head coach Genaro Espinoza. “In the clinching match against Carmel, we showed incredible character and commitment to win that day at home. We closed out our season with the 3-1 loss to Rancho San Juan, definitely not the way we wanted to close out our season. Rancho played a good game and had the motivation from their senior night. Now we wait for the Central Coast Section meeting to see who we play.”
Gonzales won two of three Mission Division games last week to earn entry in the Central Coast Section playoffs. The Spartans finished in second place behind Watsonville with an 8-2-2 division record and were 13-3-4 overall.
Last Monday, Gonzales’ Jorge Uribe scored a goal on an assist by Sammy Ochoa to defeat the host King City Mustangs by a 1-0 score. Spartans goalie Luis Cabada was credited with seven saves.
At home on Wednesday against Seaside, Uribe scored two goals, while Isaiah Esquivel and Fernando Valdez scored solo goals in the 4-0 win. Credited with assists were Uribe, Emmanuel Valdez and Sebastian Ramirez.
Then, on Friday, the Spartans were beaten 3-0 on the road to Salinas High.
After the loss to Gonzales, King City closed out the regular season with a 5-1 road victory to Pajaro Valley. Lalo Acosta led the Mustangs with three goals and Rafael Merino scored a solo goal.
King City finished in fourth place in the Mission Division with a 5-5-2 mark and were 8-10-2 overall.
The Greenfield Bruins finished sixth in the Gabilan Division with a 3-7-2 division mark and were 5-9-4 overall.
In their only game of the week last Thursday, the Bruins lost 7-0 to the undefeated Everett Alvarez Eagles.
GIRLS SOCCER
The Gonzales girls soccer team won the Cypress Division Championship last week with a 1-0 win against St. Francis and a 2-0 shutout victory at home against Greenfield.
Gonzales head coach Jose Tejeda was pleased with the back-to-back titles by the Spartan girls.
“I am incredibly happy for our girls, our parents and our entire community for the amazing support they continue to show,” Tejeda said. “Their encouragement means everything and plays a huge part in our success.”
In the hard-fought win over the St. Francis Sharks last Tuesday, Fernanda Cisneros found the back of the net off an assist from Janelle Garcia. Natalie Valdez was outstanding as goalie, recording eight saves to secure the shutout.
In the Greenfield game on Senior Night last Thursday, Alitzel Mauro opened the scoring with an impressive long-range strike. Janelle Garcia scored a beautiful goal, beating the defense and firing from outside the box, assisted by Andrea Amador. Valdez once again stepped up with seven crucial saves.
“In both matches, our defense stayed focused and disciplined,” Tejeda said. “Maryanne Camarena, Zahaira Vega, Alitzel Mauro and Maria Rosales played key roles. With these wins, we clinched our division championship and celebrated back-to-back titles.”
The Lady Spartans had an 8-8-1 overall record and were 7-2-1 in the Cypress Division.
With one game left to play as of Monday against Monterey at home on Senior Night, the Soledad Aztecs are 0-7-3 in the Gabilan Division and 6-9-3 overall.
Last week the Lady Aztecs were shut out, 4-0, against the Salinas Cowboys and had a 5-1 victory against the Rancho San Juan Trailblazers.
Jeanette Valdez led Soledad with three goals, and Nichole Gonzalez and Myrin Amilpa scored solo goals. Amilpa had two assists and Michelle Campos had one assist.
King City completed the season with a 2-0 loss to the Palma Chieftains and played North Salinas to a 1-1 tie on Friday. Destiny Mosqueda scored the Mustang goal and Isabella Hernandez-Swift assisted on the goal.
King City finished in fourth place in the Cypress Division with a 3-3-4 division record and were 4-8-5 overall.
