WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley High girls’ soccer team got a goal from an unlikely source and stunned Monterey High for its first loss in league action this season
Sophomore Heidy Cadenas came off the bench to score the game-deciding goal for the Grizzlies in their 2-1 win against the Torreadores in Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division play on Feb. 4.
“It was amazing,” Cadenas said. “I’m very proud, we improved and I love how we’re playing. I’m really happy.”
Junior Ashley Cedenas, Heidy’s sister, got things started in the first half with a goal that put them ahead, 1-0.
Pajaro Valley coach Kristian Flores said it was incredible to see both sisters go out and score to help them get the win.
The first-year head coach said the plan was to attack the left side and have the midfielders play the ball into the spaces, giving Ashley Cadenas a chance to beat her defender and pull a beautiful cutback on the goalie for the score.
PV extended the lead to 2-0 after Maricza Rodriguez passed it to Heidy Cadenas in front of the net for the goal.
“I took it and I believed in myself and I made sure that goal went in,” Cadenas said. “I wanted to cry there.”
Cadenas said the communication on the pitch has been outstanding and they’ve made sure to know where the ball needs to go on the touch passes.
“Communicating is the key to making it to the finals,” she said.
The Torreadores won the first meeting, 4-0, and Flores said they knew what to expect the second time around.
“For us it was identifying their strengths and neutralizing their strengths,” he said. “We came in with a game plan that we’ve been training for the past week.”
Layla Chu Coloma scored Monterey’s lone goal in the 63rd minute. But the Grizzlies’ did a great job to shut down any shot opportunities and close in on the passing lanes.
Karla Leyva had two assists for the Grizzlies (8-6-2, 5-2-1), who are unbeaten at home over their past seven games. The win also keeps them in the race for a Cypress Division title, but they will need some outside help such as other teams losing within the division.
“If this year we don’t make it… we did what we could and we’re starting to kind of establish ourselves and be able to make a name for ourselves in this area,” Flores said. “We can say we’re here and we’re coming for everybody.”
Pajaro Valley hosts Soledad (11-3, 6-1) on Thursday at 3:30pm.
Aptos 6, Scotts Valley 0: Jazmine Castaneda had three goals and three assists in the Mariners’ SCCAL win Feb. 3. The senior forward has 31 goals and 18 assists on the season.
Malia Kessler, Rowan Bowyer and Elizabeth Randolph also scored. Gwen Chapman and Ava Churchill had assists.
Goalie Kylie Nelson made one save for the Mariners (15-2-3, 6-2-0), who host Soquel on Tuesday at 7pm and San Lorenzo Valley on Thursday at 5pm.
St. Francis 3, Gonzales 1: Daniella Rojas scored twice and Makenna Bedolla also scored as the Sharks won their PCAL Santa Lucia Division match on senior day Feb. 3 at Depot Park.
The Sharks (6-5-2, 3-4-1) play at Rancho San Juan (4-3-1, 2-2-1) on Monday at 3:30pm.
Boys soccer
Aptos 3, Scotts Valley 0: Fredys Abrego had two goals for the Mariners on Senior Night in their SCCAL win against the Falcons on Feb. 3.
Abrego’s first goal came off of a penalty kick in the 30th minute. The second score was assisted by Kaleb Plascencia in the 46th minute.
Jack Curran added a goal in the 68th minute that was assisted by Erik Hernandez.
“Our boys struggled to find the back of the net early,” Aptos coach Roberto Zuniga said. “However, once the first ball saw the back of the net our boys refocused and created many opportunities to find the bet two more times in regulation play.”
Zuniga credited Scotts Valley for giving them a battle and for never giving up. He said that the Falcons were looking for an opportunity but the Mariners’ defense was able to shut them out.
Goalie and team Captain Ulises Hernandez had a pair of stellar saves for another clean sheet this season.
“As a coaching staff we know what this team is capable of,” Zuniga said. “The team chemistry is peaking at the right time.”
The Mariners (11-3-2, 7-1-1) will host Harbor on Wednesday at 7pm.
Aptos 4, San Lorenzo Valley 0: Fredys Abrego had two goals and an assist in the Mariners’ SCCAL win Feb. 1.
Diego Tiran and Johnny Arroyo also scored. Joey Mackle, Kaleb Plascencia and Carlos Gutierrez also had assists.
Goalie Ulises Hernandez had two saves for the Mariners
St. Francis 4, Trinity Christian 1: Austin Kholstadt had a goal and three assists in the Sharks’ PCAL Arroyo Division win Feb. 1.
Shawn Enright, Elias Garcia and Garrett Lee also scored for the Sharks. Goalie Christian Abdoo made 10 saves.
Watsonville 2, Soledad 1: Oscar Herrera and Lombardo Flores each had a goal and assist in the first half for the Wildcatz in their win against the Aztecs in PCAL Gabilan Division play Feb. 3.
The Wildcatz (11-4-3, 6-1-1) remain atop of the league standings with two games remaining in the regular season. They host Alvarez on Wednesday at 6:45pm and Alisal on Thursday at 6:45pm.
Watsonville 4, Salinas 2: The Wildcatz scored three unanswered goals in their win against the Cowboys in PCAL Gabilan Division action on Feb. 1.
Lombardo Flores and Mateo Arias each had a goal and assist for Watsonville. Sebastian Abonce and Antonio Alvarado also scored.
Isaac Vargas and Sergio Jimenez also had assists for the Wildcatz.
