SALINAS VALLEY — In a South Monterey County rivalry, the Soledad girls’ soccer team defeated host Gonzales by a 2-1 score last Friday night at Dick Force Stadium.
The Lady Aztecs’ Jeannette Valdez scored the winning goal off an assist by Nichole Gonzalez late in the first half.
Soledad took a 1-0 lead with a goal by Myrin Amilpa on an assist pass from Michelle Rodriguez. Gonzales forward Janelle Garcia received a pass from Alitzel Mauro and scored to tie the game at 1-1. Gonzalez scored the winning goal just five minutes after the game-tying goal by Garcia.
The teams played to a stalemate in the second half.
On Dec. 9, the Lady Aztecs beat visiting Pacific Collegiate by a 7-0 score. Amilpa scored three goals, Clarissa Valdez scored two goals and Gonzalez and Valdez scored solo goals against the Pumas. Clarrissa Valdez was credited with two assists, and Jeannette Valdez had one assist.
Soledad improved its record to 4-2. The Lady Aztecs finished the pre-season with a game on Monday at home against North Monterey County and qill play at King City on Thursday.
Gonzales (1-4) began the week with a 4-0 shutout loss to Everett Alvarez on Dec. 9 in Salinas. The Lady Spartans played at Monterey on Monday and will compete Wednesday at Robert Louis Stevenson to complete their pre-season.
“Even in the loss to Soledad, I saw a united group fighting until the end,” said Gonzales head coach Jose Tejeda. “I saw a strong defensive effort and some very good combinations on the field. Most importantly, I saw commitment to each other and to the game plan. Those are clear signs of growth. This team is coming together, and we are absolutely on the right track.”
King City is 1-3-0 in the pre-season as the Lady Mustangs suffered a 3-0 loss at home to Harbor and a 4-0 loss on the road to Monte Vista Christian in Watsonville last Thursday. The Lady Mustangs played at Seaside on Monday and will host Soledad on Wednesday night.
Greenfield played three games last week. The Lady Bruins beat Santa Catalina, 1-0, on a goal by Amy Jimenez and assist by Rubi Dominguez, and then lost 6-0 to Watsonville before defeating Anzar by a 9-1 score.
In the Watsonville contest, Alexeen Sanchez scored three goals, Destiny Hernandez scored two goals and Aaliyah Ortiz, Amy Jimenez, Claudia Villa and Leilani Hernandez added solo goals. Sanchez and Ortiz were credited with two assists, while Viviana Moreno, Anilu Olvera, Villa and Hernandez has solo assists. Goalie Kim Zavala had five saves.
“We had three games back-to-back in three days in a row,” said Greenfield coach Art Sanchez. “Like I tell the girls, it’s not just about soccer, you will have tough times in life, but look how you push through and figure out how to come back.”
BOYS’ SOCCER
The King City boys are 3-4-0 at the end of pre-season play as the Mustangs won two consecutive games last week.
King City won by a 4-0 score on the road to Greenfield and won a 4-2 contest to Carmel at home.
Against the Bruins, Rafael Merino, Bryan Gonzalez, Lalo Acosta and Abiel Gomez scored goals. Credited with assists were Luis Ramirez and Jesus Quintana.
At home against the Carmel Padres, Gomez and Merino scored two goals apiece for the Mustangs. Assists were handed out by Randy Cid Acosta and Gonzalez.
“This week was a great way to end our pre-season with two big victories,” said King City head coach Orlando Zendejas. “Time to continue to work and prepare for our first league game.”
Greenfield completed the week with a 1-0 win over Robert Louis Stevenson at Pebble Beach. The winning goal was a self-goal by the Pirates.
“David Arias had a good game performance on defense and overall our defense kept us in the game,” said Greenfield head coach Eliseo Ayala. “With this first win of the season, hopefully we can get the momentum going on to next week before the start of the season after the New Year.”
The Bruins will play at Soledad on Wednesday night and conclude the pre-season schedule at Rancho San Juan in Salinas.
Soledad won two of three games last week. The Aztecs began the week with a 4-2 loss at Paso Robles. Jesus Ortiz and Bryan Alvarado scored the Soledad goals.
Last Wednesday against Seaside, the Aztecs won 5-1. Ortiz scored two goals, while Jason Rico, Joshua Guzman and Jonathan Gallegos scored solo goals. On Saturday, the Aztecs defeated Half Moon Bay by a 4-1 score. Rico Ortiz, Guzman and Daniel Magana scored goals.
“The team improved quite a significantly on that Wednesday match after getting a couple of key players back from suspension and injuries,” said Soledad head coach Genaro Espinoza. “Our last two pre-season games are this coming week and are away games against really good opponents.”
Soledad played in San Jose against Mt. Pleasant on Monday and will compete at Greenfield on Wednesday night.
Gonzales completed the pre-season last week by competing in the Mission City Invitational at San Rafael. On Friday, the Spartans played to a 1-1 tie with Granada on a goal by Emmanuel Valdez on an assist by Kevin Tavares. On Saturday, a game with San Rafael ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Gonzale goalie Luis Cabada had 10 saves in the game.
“Such a great tournament with teams that have made it to their respective playoffs in the years past,” said Gonzales head coach Miguel Vidauri. “All teams invited were hand picked by the tournament organizers that took place at San Rafael High School.”
