Monache boys, Porterville girls win in soccer

It took a while, but the Monache boys soccer team broke through for a 3-0 win over Tulare Union to maintain control of first place in the East Yosemite League on Wednesday at Monache.

Monache (5-0-1 in the EYL) dominated throughout, but couldn’t break through until midway through the second half, scoring three goals in the last 20 minutes.

“It took us too long to score those goals,” Monache coach Manuel Castaneda said. “It’s just the way it is. Sometimes it takes longer than other times. We should have put this team away from the beginning. It took us a little too long.”

Monache’s two best chances in the first half came when Hector Robles had a shot go off the post and Diego Casillas was almost able to bend a long-range shot from the right side inside the left post.

Monache goalie Marco Vieyra, who posted the shutout, punched a header over the crossbar early in the second half to keep the game scoreless. Monache finally broke through when Gerardo Rodriguez scored. Casillas later beat the Union goalie for a goal to make it 2-0 and then Casillas, Jonathan Vasquez and Robles worked a nice fast break, with Casillas passing to Vasquez, who passed to Robles, who put it in the net to finish the scoring.

PHS GIRLS 5, CHAVEZ 0

Porterville (2-3 in the EYL) built a 4-0 halftime lead on its way to the win against Cesar Chavez at home after a tough stretch in which it lost to EYL powers Union, Mission Oak and Tulare Western. 

“I wished we could have had those games later on,” said Porterville coach Carlos Bravo about the tough three-game stretch early in EYL play. “But we get them in the second half of the season and we get to see if we can get those games back.”

Elicia Alvarez headed a ball forward to Alley Henry, who put it into the net to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead against Chavez. After Kayla Irwin’s shot bounced off the crossbar, Henry scored off the rebound to give PHS a 2-0 lead. After Alvarez scored, Henry scored on a breakaway to make it 4-0.

Sabreena Vallin’s long range shot that went just under the crossbar finished the scoring. Tori Cox also had a shot bounce off the post for PHS.

PHS goalie Rochelle Lupio went virtually untested in posting the shutout, making a relatively easy save on the only shot taken by Chavez. Alex Benavidez came in for Lupio and played the last 10 minutes to finish off the shutout.

STRATHMORE GIRLS 5, WOODLAKE 2

Strathmore’s tough nonleague schedule paid off to begin East Sequoia League play on Tuesday as the Spartans gained the early upper hand against a team expected to challenge them for the ESL title at Woodlake.

“This was a very good game,” Strathmore coach Hector Gonzalez said. “A great effort by all the girls. We’re playing very well as a team. We’re passing the ball very well. It’s an excellent start for the league.”

Nayeli Colunga and Andrea Gutierrez each scored twice and Celeste Navarrete scored once for Strathmore (11-2-1, 1-0) against Woodlake (8-4, 0-1). Gonzalez also said that Victoria Rutherford had an especially strong game and that Kayla Holloway and goalie Sasha Garcia had strong games as well.

It took a while, but the Monache boys soccer team broke through for a 3-0 win over Tulare Union to maintain control of first place in the East Yosemite League on Wednesday at Monache.

Monache (5-0-1 in the EYL) dominated throughout, but couldn’t break through until midway through the second half, scoring three goals in the last 20 minutes.

“It took us too long to score those goals,” Monache coach Manuel Castaneda said. “It’s just the way it is. Sometimes it takes longer than other times. We should have put this team away from the beginning. It took us a little too long.”

Monache’s two best chances in the first half came when Hector Robles had a shot go off the post and Diego Casillas was almost able to bend a long-range shot from the right side inside the left post.

Monache goalie Marco Vieyra, who posted the shutout, punched a header over the crossbar early in the second half to keep the game scoreless. Monache finally broke through when Gerardo Rodriguez scored. Casillas later beat the Union goalie for a goal to make it 2-0 and then Casillas, Jonathan Vasquez and Robles worked a nice fast break, with Casillas passing to Vasquez, who passed to Robles, who put it in the net to finish the scoring.

PHS GIRLS 5, CHAVEZ 0

Porterville (2-3 in the EYL) built a 4-0 halftime lead on its way to the win against Cesar Chavez at home after a tough stretch in which it lost to EYL powers Union, Mission Oak and Tulare Western. 

“I wished we could have had those games later on,” said Porterville coach Carlos Bravo about the tough three-game stretch early in EYL play. “But we get them in the second half of the season and we get to see if we can get those games back.”

Elicia Alvarez headed a ball forward to Alley Henry, who put it into the net to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead against Chavez. After Kayla Irwin’s shot bounced off the crossbar, Henry scored off the rebound to give PHS a 2-0 lead. After Alvarez scored, Henry scored on a breakaway to make it 4-0.

Sabreena Vallin’s long range shot that went just under the crossbar finished the scoring. Tori

Cox also had a shot bounce off the post for PHS.

PHS goalie Rochelle Lupio went virtually untested in posting the shutout, making a relatively easy save on the only shot taken by Chavez. Alex Benavidez came in for Lupio and played the last 10 minutes to finish off the shutout.

STRATHMORE GIRLS 5, WOODLAKE 2

Strathmore’s tough nonleague schedule paid off to begin East Sequoia League play on Tuesday as the Spartans gained the early upper hand against a team expected to challenge them for the ESL title at Woodlake.

“This was a very good game,” Strathmore coach Hector Gonzalez said. “A great effort by all the girls. We’re playing very well as a team. We’re passing the ball very well. It’s an excellent start for the league.”

Nayeli Colunga and Andrea Gutierrez each scored twice and Celeste Navarrete scored once for Strathmore (11-2-1, 1-0) against Woodlake (8-4, 0-1). Gonzalez also said that Victoria Rutherford had an especially strong game and that Kayla Holloway and goalie Sasha Garcia had strong games as well.