Local soccer roundup: Monache, Granite, PHS boys teams all win

It was a little too close for comfort, but the Monache boys soccer team served notice that it’s not going to give up its spot a top the East Yosemite League easily.

In a game that Monache really dominated, the Marauders beat Tulare Western 2-1 on Monday at MHS to improve to 7-1-1 in the EYL. Monache stayed in first place in league with 22 points (three points for a win, one point for a tie).

“That was a much needed win after losing to Porterville,” said Monache coach Manuel Castaneda, whose team was coming off a 4-1 loss to PHS on Friday.

Monache led 2-0 at halftime against Western and it could have been more. “I thought we could have put this team away in the first half,” Castaneda said. “A win is a win.”

The Marauders were also able to win without one of their top players, Gerardo Rodriguez, who also missed the Porterville game with a hamstring injury. Monache hopes that Rodriguez can return next week.

Hector Robles scored to give Monache a 1-0 lead early against Western. Monache went up 2-0 on an excellent play from Diego Casillas, who was able to save the ball from going out of bounds on the end line and sent a crossing pass in front of the goal where Lalo Martinez was to put it in. Monache almost went up 3-0 off of Casillas corner kick when Manuel Navarro took the pass in air and sent a shot that bounced off the post.

Western closed to within 2-1 after a defensive breakdown led to a goal on a header. Monache came close several times to adding an insurance goal, with Casillas just missing twice, with the Western goalie making a diving save on Casillas’ header and Casillas just missing wide on another shot.

GRANITE BOYS 5, DELANO 4

Coming off its upset 1-0 win over Western, the Grizzlies (3-6 in the EYL) knocked off another EYL contender in a wild finish. Delano scored with 10 minutes left to take a 3-2 lead, but Jose Gonzalez answered with his third goal right after Delano scored to tie the game 3-3 for Granite Hills. About three minutes later, Delano took a 4-3 lead, but with about one minute left in regulation, Francisco Ceballos scored to tie the score 4-4 for Granite. Then in injury time, Jesus Ramirez took the ball up the sideline and passed to Nunez, who crossed a pass to Gonzalez, who scored his third goal for the game-winner.

Rigoberto Gonzalez scored on a header off of a pass from Nunez to give Granite a 1-0 lead and Gonzalez scored to put the Grizzlies up 2-0. Delano scored with one minute left to pull within 2-1 at halftime.

Granite was able to avenge a 7-1 loss in the first meeting. “It’s another huge win for us,” Granite Hills coach Luis Espino said. “It was a very, very exciting last 15 to 20 minutes.”

PHS BOYS 3, KENNEDY 0

Porterville (7-2 in the EYL, 21 points) kept pace in the race for the EYL title by overcoming the conditions at Kennedy. “It was just a mud bowl out there,” Porterville coach Angel Vallin said.

Cesar Castelo, Cesar Hernandez and Francisco Torres all scored for PHS. Porterville goalie Lanron Asencio posted the shutout.

PHS GIRLS 8, KENNEDY 0

Porterville (6-3 in the EYL) built a 4-0 halftime lead on its way to rolling past Robert K. Kennedy. “It’s a good chance to put in my subs and get to evaluate them,” said Porterville coach Carlos Bravo about playing everybody.

Despite the level of opponent, Bravo was pleased with his team’s effort. “It is kind of hard to stay focused, but we did well,” he said.

PHS began the second half by scoring two quick goals as Sabreena Vallin took the ball up the middle and sent a shot into the left corner of the net. Moments later, Kayla Irwin sent a shot just underneath the crossbar from the right side to give Porterville a 6-0 lead. Alex Benavidez then scored off of a pass from Vallin and Alley Henry stole the ball from the defender and sent a shot from the right side that bounced off a defender and into the goal to finish the scoring.

Henry had three goals and an assist, Vallin had three assists and Elicia Alvarez added two goals and an assist for PHS.

GRANITE JV BOYS 1, DELANO 1

Alfredo Sanchez scored for Granite’s junior varsity.

It was a little too close for comfort, but the Monache boys soccer team served notice that it’s not going to give up its spot a top the East Yosemite League easily.

In a game that Monache really dominated, the Marauders beat Tulare Western 2-1 on Monday at MHS to improve to 7-1-1 in the EYL. Monache stayed in first place in league with 22 points (three points for a win, one point for a tie).

“That was a much needed win after losing to Porterville,” said Monache coach Manuel Castaneda, whose team was coming off a 4-1 loss to PHS on Friday.

Monache led 2-0 at halftime against Western and it could have been more. “I thought we could have put this team away in the first half,” Castaneda said. “A win is a win.”

The Marauders were also able to win without one of their top players, Gerardo Rodriguez, who also missed the Porterville game with a hamstring injury. Monache hopes that Rodriguez can return next week.

Hector Robles scored to give Monache a 1-0 lead early against Western. Monache went up 2-0 on an excellent play from Diego Casillas, who was able to save the ball from going out of bounds on the end line and sent a crossing pass in front of the goal where Lalo Martinez was to put it in. Monache almost went up 3-0 off of Casillas corner kick when Manuel Navarro took the pass in air and sent a shot that bounced off the post.

Western closed to within 2-1 after a defensive breakdown led to a goal on a header. Monache came close several times to adding an insurance goal, with Casillas just missing twice, with the Western goalie making a diving save on Casillas’ header and Casillas just missing wide on another shot.

GRANITE BOYS 5, DELANO 4

Coming off its upset 1-0 win over Western, the Grizzlies (3-6 in the EYL) knocked off another EYL contender in a wild finish. Delano scored with 10 minutes left to take a 3-2 lead, but Jose Gonzalez answered with his third goal right after Delano scored to tie the game 3-3 for Granite Hills. About three minutes later, Delano took a 4-3 lead, but with about one minute left in regulation, Francisco Ceballos scored to tie the score 4-4 for Granite. Then in injury time, Jesus

Ramirez took the ball up the sideline and passed to Nunez, who crossed a pass to Gonzalez, who scored his third goal for the game-winner.

Rigoberto Gonzalez scored on a header off of a pass from Nunez to give Granite a 1-0 lead and Gonzalez scored to put the Grizzlies up 2-0. Delano scored with one minute left to pull within 2-1 at halftime.

Granite was able to avenge a 7-1 loss in the first meeting. “It’s another huge win for us,” Granite Hills coach Luis Espino said. “It was a very, very exciting last 15 to 20 minutes.”

PHS BOYS 3, KENNEDY 0

Porterville (7-2 in the EYL, 21 points) kept pace in the race for the EYL title by overcoming the conditions at Kennedy. “It was just a mud bowl out there,” Porterville coach Angel Vallin said.

Cesar Castelo, Cesar Hernandez and Francisco Torres all scored for PHS. Porterville goalie Lanron Asencio posted the shutout.

PHS GIRLS 8, KENNEDY 0

Porterville (6-3 in the EYL) built a 4-0 halftime lead on its way to rolling past Robert K. Kennedy. “It’s a good chance to put in my subs and get to evaluate them,” said Porterville coach Carlos Bravo about playing everybody.

Despite the level of opponent, Bravo was pleased with his team’s effort. “It is kind of hard to stay focused, but we did well,” he said.

PHS began the second half by scoring two quick goals as Sabreena Vallin took the ball up the middle and sent a shot into the left corner of the net. Moments later, Kayla Irwin sent a shot just underneath the crossbar from the right side to give Porterville a 6-0 lead. Alex Benavidez then scored off of a pass from Vallin and Alley Henry stole the ball from the defender and sent a shot from the right side that bounced off a defender and into the goal to finish the scoring.

Henry had three goals and an assist, Vallin had three assists and Elicia Alvarez added two goals and an assist for PHS.

GRANITE JV BOYS 1, DELANO 1

Alfredo Sanchez scored for Granite’s junior varsity.