TODAY’S SOCCER SCHEDULE
Boys Soccer
Sierra League
South Hills at Damien, 5:30 p.m.
Ayala at Charter Oak, 5:30 p.m.
Chino Hills at Claremont, 5:30 p.m.
Baseline League
Rancho Cucamonga at Glendora, 3:15 p.m.
Girls Soccer
Sierra League
St. Lucy’s vs. South Hills at Covina District Field, 5 p.m.
Claremont at Chino Hills, 5:30 p.m.
Charter Oak at Ayala, 5:30 p.m.
Baseline League
Glendora at Rancho Cucamonga, 3:15 p.m.
THURSDAY’S SOCCER RESULTS
La Puente boys soccer takes care of Duarte, 2-0: It only took four minutes for the La Puente High School boys soccer team to deliver the knockout blow.
The Warriors scored with three minutes left in the first half and then again in the opening minute of the second half en route to a 2-0 Montview League victory over host Duarte on Thursday afternoon.
“Every time you score a goal, it gives you confidence,” La Puente coach Bahram Alavi said, “especially for high school kids. Their chests come out and they say, `All right!’
BOYS SOCCER ROUNDUP
Montview League
Gladstone 4, Azusa 3 (OT)
Eric Romo scored two goals to lead the Gladiators, who improved to 3-3 in league action.
Jorge Mota and Kaylin Valleverde added one goal each for Gladstone.
“It was an overtime win. The kids played with a lot of heart. I’m really proud of their performance,” stated J.D. Garcia Gladstone’s head coach.
Sierra Vista 3, Bassett 1
No stats updated, but the Dons are 9-3-2 and 3-2-1. The Olympians are 4-7-2 and 1-5
Note: No other Montview league teams did not call in results or update on Maxpreps.
Hacienda League
Bonita 3, Los Altos 1
There was no information called in or on Maxpreps, just the final score. But the Bearcats are 4-5-3 and 2-0 in league and Los Altos is 7-5-4 and 1-1-2.
Diamond Bar 3, Walnut 1
Nathan Joya scored twice and Gabe Brown added the other in the Brahmas win to improve to 2-9-1 but more importantly 2-1 in the Hacienda…..Julian Sanchez scored the long goal for the Mustangs who are 4-6-1 and 2-2.
Note: No other Hacienda league games were called in or updated on Maxpreps.
Valle Vista League
Pomona 3, Covina 0
The Red Devils remained perfect in league, improving to 6-2-1 and 4-0 in league. The Colts are 6-6-1 and 2-3.
Note: No other Valle Vista league games were called in or updated on Maxpreps.
GIRLS SOCCER ROUNDUP
Hacienda League
Diamond Bar 4, Walnut 1
Tatum Lockett, Stevie Thomas, Helena Kisor and Marissa Favela all scored in the Brahmas romp over the Mustangs, scoring three goals in the second half to pull away and improve to 10-3-3 and a perfect 3-0 in league to take over sole possession of first. The Mustangs droppd to 3-4-1 and 1-1-1. Walnut’s scoring was unavailable.
Rowland 2, Diamond Ranch 1
Stats were unavailable…and records were not updated.
Montview League
Sierra Vista 8, Bassett 1
The Dons (9-2-2, 6-0) took a 8-1 lead and never looked back. Daisy Ruiz led Sierra Vista scoring four goals, three off of Isabel Chavez
Jessica Lopez chipped in with two goals and three assists. Abagail Alcantara also had two goals. Leading Bassett (1-8-1, 1-4-1) was Noemi Canchola scoring one unassisted goal. The Tigers got goals from Jackie Mejia and Kelley Brady to lead South Pasadena to the win.
With just over two minutes into the game, Mejia scored what proved to be the game winner and San Marino was never able to get into the game after.
The Titans got a solid performance behind keeper Ellie Hannon who kept the game close with five saves.
La Puente 4, Duarte 1
Arye Looney scored three goals and dished out an assist in the Warriors victory. The Warriors are 4-5-3 and 4-1-1 in league. The Falcons dipped to 3-6-1 and 1-2-1.
Azusa 3, Gladstone 0
Michelle Munoz scored two goals and Silvia Garcia scored the others as the Aztecs imprvoed to 5-2-1 and 3-1-1. The Gladiators are now 1-7 and 1-4 in league.
Ganesha 2, Workman 1
Jazmin Hernandez scored both goals and Valerie Flores had two assists in the Giants victory, who are now 6-6-1 and 3-2.
Valle Vista league
Wilson 4, Baldwin Park 1
No information on the game called in, however the Wildcats are 7-4-1 and 4-1 in league with the Braves dropping to 0-8-1 and 0-5
Covina 2, Pomona 0
There was no information on the game called in, but the Colts improved to 3-5-1 and 2-3 while the Devils dropped to 4-7 and 1-3.
“We work on being quick. I always preach that John Wooden axiom: Be quick, but don’t be in a hurry.”
It was as if the Falcons did not know what had hit them. Duarte controlled much of the first half and it appeared the Falcons were going to make sure the league race was muddled up only five games in.
“Eighty percent of the (first half) we dominated,” Duarte coach Juan Gutierrez said. “They score and it’s a fluke. We lose focus. You think the game’s going to go into halftime tied and it’s not.”
Duarte’s Alfredo Perez sent a corner kick into the goalie area with three minutes remaining in the half. Goalkeeper Carlos Perez batted the ball out with his fist and it went to Alex Saldana. The junior drove up the middle of the field uncontested. He passed it to the right side to Luis Lira, who sent it right back to Saldana. Duarte goalkeeper Alan Lopez was concentrating on stopping Lira and it left Saldana wide open.
“It was a good play,” Saldana said. “I was just trying hard to get it in.”
Even though the Falcons had moments earlier been concentrating on scoring off the corner kick, they still had plenty of defenders in place to stop Saldana. They had five in fact against the two strikers.
“The first half was good,” Duarte midfielder Saul Acosta said. “We had control. But that counterattack in the last minute, everyone took their heads down. We had five guys back there.”
At about 5-foot-4, Saldana, a junior striker, was the shortest player on the field.
“I think because he’s small, some people forget about him,” Alavi said. “People who know soccer look at his size and say, `Oh we have to keep an eye on him.’ The little guys tend to be the quick ones. He’s a heck of a player and he’s a humble kid. I’m very lucky to have him.”
The Warriors decided the game’s outcome in the first minute of the second half. Lira sent a sideline throw into Jose Lopez, who made a quick pass across the goalmouth to Roberto Viallneuava, who scored on a header.
“It gave us all the confidence that we needed,” the sophomore midfielder said. “I saw (Duarte goalie Lopez) go the other way and went to the other side and waited …”
Duarte, which has only a handful of seniors, seemed deflated. “That second goal definitely took our sails out,” Gutierrez said.
La Puente controlled the second half, outshooting Duarte, 11-4. The Warriors had four corner kicks.
“At the end we started playing better, but they kind of backed off,” Alavi said.
Nearly all of the Falcons’ strikers and midfielders were hurt in the physical game, forcing Gutierrez to finish the game without a senior on the field.
“We’re doing all right,” Gutierrez said. “We have definitely created a program where we can compete. We have a lot of potential.”
The win sets up a showdown for the Warriors against first-place Azusa next week. La Puente is in second place at 4-1-1. Duarte fell to 2-3.
“We have a lot to improve on,” Alavi said. “(Tuesday’s game) is going to be the test, This was a nice win, but we have a long way to go.”
keith.lair@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2242
