Watsonville High dropped its first and second game of the prestigious Lotto Sport Western Showcase, a soccer tournament at San Clemente High in Southern California loaded with nationally-ranked squads from around the country.
The Wildcatz (4-2) lost their opener on Thursday evening against Servite High by a 2-0 decision and then fell to St. Paul’s, of Covington, La., by the same margin on Friday afternoon.
Servite is ranked fifth in Top Drawer Soccer’s latest Winter FAB 50 national rankings and St. Paul’s is ranked eighth.
Watsonville, meanwhile, was ranked 39th.
The Wildcatz will play in the seventh-place match today at 11:30 a.m. against Corona Del Sol High, of Tempe, Ariz.
In Thursday’s match the Wildcatz went into the half in a scoreless tie with Servite but a controversial free kick from Corbin Mercado put the Friars up 1-0 in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes later Kyle Pearce made it 2-0 by heading in a cross from Cade Fuller.
Watsonville had a handful of chances throughout the match but could not convert any.
On Friday afternoon, St. Paul’s, a state champion each of the last four seasons, jumped on the Wildcatz early with a pair of goals in the first 30 minutes. Colin Moser scored the first and James Bryant added the second.
Strong play by freshman Jeal Leal and seniors Alex Gonzalez, Erik Herera and Oscar Rocha kept Watsonville competitive but the Wildcatz again could not find the back of the net.
Along with Corona Del Sol, Servite and St. Paul’s, Auburndale High of Florida, Buchanan High of Clovis, Paramount High and host San Clemente are also competing in the tournament.
Top Drawer Soccer has Paramount and Auburndale ranked 10th and 25th in the nation, respectively.
San Clemente, meanwhile, is 23rd in the California state rankings, which feature Watsonville in 12th.
