SALINAS VALLEY — Wins over Trinity and York improved the Gonzales High boys soccer team to 6-1-1 and just a victory away from qualifying for a Central Coast Section playoff berth.
“I am very proud of my boys,” said Gonzales Spartans head coach Salvador Garcia. “We are accomplishing what we had in mind since day one, but we are not done yet. We want the CCS playoffs and will work hard next week to get there.”
With a home game at Dick Force Stadium, the Spartans shut out the Trinity Warriors 4-0 last Tuesday. Bryan Sanchez, Jesus Guillen, Pedro Ramirez and Enrique Melena each scored goals.
Two days later Gonzales hit the road to Monterey, where they defeated the York Falcons, 4-1. Ramirez scored a pair of goals and Melena and Jesus Pena added solo goals.
“If we win on Wednesday, we have an elimination game,” Garcia said. “The winner advances to the CCS playoffs.”
The week for the Spartans started off with a 1-1 tie with the visiting Soledad Aztecs.
Gonzales scored with 20 minutes left in the contest on a goal by Jesus Barragan, and the Aztecs scored with five minutes left to play on a free-kick shot by Elias Arreola. Soledad played the final minutes after Gonzales scored with just 10 players as they had a player receive a red card.
The Aztecs finished the week with a 2-0 loss to San Benito High School in Hollister and finished 2-2-2 for the season.
The Soledad Lady Aztecs had a .500 record last week with a 9-1 win over Gonzales on May 11 and a 2-0 shutout loss against the San Benito Haybalers of Hollister.
“As the season comes to an end, I want to thank my assistant coaches Jose Aguilar and Jose Tejeda for their passion and dedication to the sport,” said Soledad girls head coach Maria Zamora. “Our Lady Aztecs continue to work hard to earn a spot in CCS. It has definitely been a difficult season, but we are not giving up. We will accommodate to meet our needs and we will definitely give our best in the coming matches.”
In the win over Gonzales, freshman Sophia Martel scored seven goals to lead Soledad. Goals were also scored by Alondra Juarez and Larissa Rodriguez. Micaela Mojica was credited with four assists, while Juarez and Rodriguez added assists of their own.
“One lone goal scored against Soledad came from Samantha Oliva off a free kick,” said Gonzales head girls coach Tiburcio Manriquez. “(On Friday) we played at North Monterey County and lost by a 2-0 score. I would like to recognize Ashley Ochoa and Lupita Tejeda for their efforts in both matches.”
On Tuesday, the Spartans concluded the season with a game on the road with the Notre Dame Spirits at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.
