STORY: The El Monte High School boys soccer team felt it let one get away a few weeks back at Arroyo, losing its only game of the season 1-0 after missing a penalty kick in the final minutes that would have tied it.
El Monte was ready for the rematch on Thursday for sole possession of first in the Mission Valley League. It wasted no time winning every loose ball and racing to a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes before settling on a 4-2 victory to improve to 11-1 overall and 5-1 in the MVL. Arroyo, which lost earlier in the week 3-2 to Mountain View, dropped to 12-2-4 and 4-2.
“They came out like a hurricane,” Arroyo coach Frank Raygoza said. “They’re a great team, let’s give them credit. We knew they were going to come strong and we thought we were prepared for it. I just felt they were a better team today.”

BOYS SOCCER
Thursday’s games
Hacienda League
Diamond Bar (6-1) at West Covina (0-5-1), 3:15 p.m.
Diamond Ranch (4-1-2) at Los Altos (3-2), 3:30 p.m.
Rowland (2-3-1) at Bonita (2-5), 3:30 p.m.
Mission Valley League
Arroyo (4-1) at El Monte (4-1), 3:15 p.m.
Mountain View (2-1-2) at South El Monte (1-2-2), 3:15 p.m.
Gabrielino (0-3-2) at Rosemead (0-3-2), 3:15 p.m.
Montview League
Ganesha (3-4) at Sierra Vista (8-0-1), 5 p.m.
La Puente (5-3-1) at Bassett (4-4-1), 5 p.m.
Duarte (7-2) at Gladstone (0-4-3), 3:15 p.m.
Azusa (1-5-2) at Workman (1-7), 3:15 p.m.
Valle Vista League
Northview (7-1) at Pomona (4-3), 3:15 p.m.
Wilson (4-4) at Covina (2-6), 3:15 p.m.
Baldwin Park (6-1) at San Dimas (0-8), 3:15 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Thursday’s games
Del Rey League
Bishop Montgomery (2-2) at Bishop Amat (3-0-1), 3:15 p.m.
St. Joseph’s (3-0-1) at La Salle (1-3), 5 p.m.
Hacienda League
Los Altos (4-0-1) at Diamond Ranch (1-3), 3:30 p.m.
West Covina (1-4-1) at Diamond Bar (5-1-1), 5:30 p.m.
Bonita (4-2) at Rowland (0-5), 3:30 p.m.
Mission Valley League
Rosemead (2-3) at Gabrielino (5-0), 3:15 p.m.
El Monte (1-3-1) at Arroyo (3-2), 3:15 p.m.
South El Monte (3-1-1) at Mountain View (0-5), 3:15 p.m.
Montview League
Sierra Vista (9-0) at Ganesha (3-4-2), 5 p.m.
Bassett (0-9) at La Puente (4-5), 3:15 p.m.
Gladstone (4-3-2) at Duarte (5-4), 3:15 p.m.
Workman (2-7) at Azusa (6-1-2), 3:15 p.m.
Valle Vista League
Pomona (1-3-2) at Northview (3-4), 3:15 p.m.
Covina (-5-1) at Wilson (5-3), 3:15 p.m.
San Dimas (7-0) at Baldwin Park (3-2-1), 3:15 p.m.