Big wins for PHS, Granite boys, PHS girls in soccer

This time, the Porterville High boys soccer team was able to gain revenge and keep pace in the race for the East Yosemite League title with Monache in the process. Meanwhile, the Granite Hills boys soccer team continued its surger in the second round of EYL play with a win in another down-to-the-wire game its become accustomed to.

Porterville beat Mission Oak 5-2 on Friday at PHS while Granite defeated Tulare Union 2-1 at Rankin Stadium.

In the two teams’ first meeting, Mission Oak was able to take advantage of its smaller field to beat the Panthers in Tulare. But this time, Mission Oak was really no match for Porterville on its regulation-sized soccer field at PHS.

“We knew this game was going to be a little different than when we played them there,” Porterville coach Angel Vallin said.

Porterville improved to 9-2 in the EYL and now has 27 points (three points for a win, one for a tie) and if Monache beat Cesar Chavez as expected on Friday, the Panthers would remain one point behind the Marauders as the two teams continued on a collision course for the EYL title.

With the bigger field, PHS was able to take advantage of the speed of Cesar Castelo, who scored twice. “We did what we needed to do,” Vallin said. “We did what we should have done the first time around.”

Ariel Rosso and Castelo scored to give PHS a 2-1 lead and it looked like Porterville was going up 3-1 off of a corner kick by Cesar Hernandez when it appeared Andrew Connolley scored on a header, but it was ruled that the ball touched Connolley in the arm in the process. Mission Oak went on to tie the score 2-2, but after that it was all Porterville.

PHS scored two goals in the last four minutes of the first half to take control.

This time Connelley was able to score off of a Hernandez corner kick after a scramble for the ball to give PHS a 3-2 lead. Castelo scored on a shot from about 30 yards just as time ran out to give Porterville a 4-2 lead. Chris Barraza scored on a shot from about 25 yards for PHS to finish the scoring.

Hernandez had two assists for PHS.

GRANITE 2, UNION 1

Jorge Nunez scored on an assist from Rigoberto Gonzalez in the first five minutes to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead and it looked like Granite would make the goal stand up. Granite goalie Ulises Mijes made two outstanding saves to preserve the lead, but Union broke through with about four minutes left in regulation. It looked like Mijes was going to make another outstanding diving save, getting a hand on the ball, but the ball snuck underneath his hand to force overtime.

Union pressured on Granite’s side of the field for virtually the entire first 10-minute overtime, but it was the Grizzlies who struck on a beautiful play just as time ran out. Francisco Ceballos sent a crossing pass to Jose Gonzalez, who scored on a header to give Granite a 2-1 lead.

In the second overtime period, Granite survived a shot off the crossbar as time ran out to preserve the win. Granite (4-7 in the EYL) has now won three of its last four games and in Union, it beat a team it lost to 3-0 in the first round.

The win was costly, though, as in the physical game, Granite lost two players to red cards while Union lost one. Those two players will have to sit out Monday’s game against Monache at 4:30 p.m. at Rankin Stadium.

“Another outstanding effort from my team,” Granite Hills coach Luis Espino said.

PHS GIRLS 3, MISSION OAK 2

Porterville (7-4 in the EYL) finally broke through against one of the Tulare schools, beating Mission Oak in overtime in Tulare. Elicia Alvarez continued her quest for the league scoring title by scoring two goals for PHS. Sabreena Vallin continued to show off her strong foot when she scored Porterville’s other goal on a free kick from 35 yards. Vallin also sent a perfectly placed pass to Alvarez, who scored on a beautiful header to force a 2-2 tie and overtime.

GRANITE JV BOYS 1, TULARE UNION 0

Alfredo Sanchez scored for Granite’s junior varsity.

This time, the Porterville High boys soccer team was able to gain revenge and keep pace in the race for the East Yosemite League title with Monache in the process. Meanwhile, the Granite Hills boys soccer team continued its surger in the second round of EYL play with a win in another down-to-the-wire game its become accustomed to.

Porterville beat Mission Oak 5-2 on Friday at PHS while Granite defeated Tulare Union 2-1 at Rankin Stadium.

In the two teams’ first meeting, Mission Oak was able to take advantage of its smaller field to beat the Panthers in Tulare. But this time, Mission Oak was really no match for Porterville on its regulation-sized soccer field at PHS.

“We knew this game was going to be a little different than when we played them there,” Porterville coach Angel Vallin said.

Porterville improved to 9-2 in the EYL and now has 27 points (three points for a win, one for a tie) and if Monache beat Cesar Chavez as expected on Friday, the Panthers would remain one point behind the Marauders as the two teams continued on a collision course for the EYL title.

With the bigger field, PHS was able to take advantage of the speed of Cesar Castelo, who scored twice. “We did what we needed to do,” Vallin said. “We did what we should have done the first time around.”

Ariel Rosso and Castelo scored to give PHS a 2-1 lead and it looked like Porterville was going up 3-1 off of a corner kick by Cesar Hernandez when it appeared Andrew Connolley scored on a header, but it was ruled that the ball touched Connolley in the arm in the process. Mission Oak went on to tie the score 2-2, but after that it was all Porterville.

PHS scored two goals in the last four minutes of the first half to take control.

This time Connelley was able to score off of a Hernandez corner kick after a scramble for the ball to give PHS a 3-2 lead. Castelo scored on a shot from about 30 yards just as time ran out to give Porterville a 4-2 lead. Chris Barraza scored on a shot from about 25 yards for PHS to finish the scoring.

Hernandez had two assists for PHS.

GRANITE 2, UNION 1

Jorge Nunez scored on an assist from Rigoberto Gonzalez in the first five minutes to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead and it looked like Granite would make the goal stand up. Granite goalie Ulises Mijes made two outstanding saves to preserve the lead, but Union broke through with about four minutes left in regulation. It looked like Mijes was going to make another outstanding diving save, getting a hand on the ball, but the ball snuck underneath his hand to force overtime.

Union pressured on Granite’s side of the field for virtually the entire first 10-minute overtime, but it was the Grizzlies who struck on a beautiful play just as time ran out. Francisco Ceballos sent a crossing pass to Jose Gonzalez, who scored on a header to give Granite a 2-1 lead.

In the second overtime period, Granite survived a shot off the crossbar as time ran out to preserve the win. Granite (4-7 in the EYL) has now won three of its last four games and in Union, it beat a team it lost to 3-0 in the first round.

The win was costly, though, as in the physical game, Granite lost two players to red cards while Union lost one. Those two players will have to sit out Monday’s game against Monache at 4:30 p.m. at Rankin Stadium.

“Another outstanding effort from my team,” Granite Hills coach Luis Espino said.

PHS GIRLS 3, MISSION OAK 2

Porterville (7-4 in the EYL) finally broke through against one of the Tulare schools, beating Mission Oak in overtime in Tulare. Elicia Alvarez continued her quest for the league scoring title by scoring two goals for PHS. Sabreena Vallin continued to show off her strong foot when she scored Porterville’s other goal on a free kick from 35 yards. Vallin also sent a perfectly placed pass to Alvarez, who scored on a beautiful header to force a 2-2 tie and overtime.

GRANITE JV BOYS 1, TULARE UNION 0

Alfredo Sanchez scored for Granite’s junior varsity.