The Watsonville boys’ soccer team bounced back after it suffered its first loss of the season with a 2-0 victory against San Benito on Tuesday in non-league action.
Seniors Angel Tarelo and Mateo Arias scored goals for the Wildcatz, who recorded their fifth win by way of a shutout.
Watsonville (5-2-2) hosts crosstown rival Pajaro Valley on Friday at 6:45pm.
Soquel 3, at Aptos 1: The Mariners allowed two second-half goals in their loss to the Knights in the teams’ Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League opener Tuesday night.
Soquel took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute but then Aptos’ Joey Mackle scored in the 38th minute to knot the score at 1-all. The goal was set up after Fredys Abrego dribbled through the middle past two defenders and took a strong shot.
The ball rebounded off the goalie and landed in front of Mackle who followed up with the second opportunity to put it behind the net.
Aptos coach Roberto Zuniga said in a text message that the game, which was played in very low fog, was decided by whoever made the most mistakes. He mentioned that the fog made it difficult for the players, and himself, to track the ball.
“Soquel capitalized on those mistakes and were able to get two quick goals for the win tonight,” he said.
Aptos (5-3-1, 0-1-0) plays at Harbor on Thursday at 7pm.
Pajaro Valley game postponed: The Grizzlies’ non-league match against North Salinas on Tuesday night was postponed. Pajaro Valley will play at crosstown rival Watsonville on Friday at 6:45pm.
Girls soccer
Monte Vista Christian 0, Alisal 0: Goalie Alexa Malespina made 11 saves for the Mustangs in a scoreless draw against the Trojans on Tuesday night in non-league play.
Alisal took 13 shots and MVC had 11 shots on goal.
MVC (3-4-2) plays its preseason finale at The Harker School in San Jose on Friday at 4:30pm.
Aptos’ league opener postponed: The Mariners (9-0-1) had their SCCAL opener against Soquel postponed due to a couple of Knights’ players who tested positive for Covid-19, according to head Aptos coach Gina Castañeda. The game will be rescheduled for a date and time yet to be determined.
Boys basketball
Aptos 47, Soquel 36: Cameron Saldana had 24 points, eight rebounds and three steals to help lift the Mariners get past the Knights in their SCCAL opener Tuesday night.
Max Baldeh added 10 points for the Mariners, who led 18-12 at halftime and 37-25 entering the fourth quarter.
Aptos (12-4, 1-0) hosts Harbor in league action on Friday at 7pm.
Watsonville 66, Greenfield 38: Brody Legions had 15 points and 10 rebounds to help lead the Wildcatz to victory in their Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division opener against the Bruins.
Oscar Meza scored nine points for the Wildcatz and teammate Karlos Corpus added eight points with a pair of 3-pointers.
Anthony Martinez made four 3s and finished with 12 points for Greenfield. Oscar Perez added a pair of 3s and finished with 10 points.
The Wildcatz (5-7, 1-0) play at King City in league action on Tuesday at 7pm.
Girls basketball
Soquel 36, Aptos 32: Jaylen Dang had 11 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Mariners in their loss to the Knights in the teams’ SCCAL opener Tuesday night.
Grace Parry added 10 points and five rebounds, and Jasmine Ackerman had six points, seven rebounds and five steals for Aptos.
Junior Isis Yao had 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks for Soquel.
The Mariners (9-5, 0-1) host Harbor on Friday at 6pm.
High school swimming
Sarah Eichhorn named as MVC’s new swim coach: Monte Vista Christian announced Monday that Sarah Eichhorn was named the new head coach for the swimming program.
“I am very excited to be back at MVC and this time as a coach,” she said. “I believe that God has placed me here to encourage and motivate these student-athletes to do the best they can in and out of the pool.”
Eichhorn, who is a 2017 alumna, swam all four years in a Mustangs’ swimsuit. She made multiple Central Coast Section appearances in the 500 freestyle, 200 free as well as the 100 free and backstroke.
Eichhorn attended Azusa Pacific University where she was a member of the women’s swim team.
Matt Coleman, director of athletics states, said he’s excited to see Eichhorn return to MVC and lead the swim program.
“With her recent experience at the collegiate level and her passion for swimming, she will be a great addition to our athletic program,” he said.
NBA G League
Sea Dubs make roster moves: The Santa Cruz Warriors announced Wednesday that it acquired guard Jerome Robinson off waivers along with Trevor John and Lamont West from the available player pool.
Robinson was drafted 13th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the LA Clippers. He was then traded to the Washington Wizards during the 2019-20 season and spent the 2020-21 season with the team averaging 4.9 points and 2.2 rebounds before being waived in April 2021.
Robinson spent three seasons at Boston College where he averaged 17.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists as an Eagle.
John played three years at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo before transferring for his final season at Drexel University. At Drexel, he started all 32 games and averaged 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists.
John has spent time with three NBA G League teams this year, Grand Rapids, Wisconsin and Sioux Falls.
West played his first three seasons at West Virginia University before finishing his collegiate career at Missouri State where he averaged 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Prior to coming to Santa Cruz, West played for the Spars in the Bosnia Division 1 league.
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