THE PREPS : DIVISION 2-A BOYS’ SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP : El Dorado’s Title Hopes Dashed by Bell Gardens

Unseeded El Dorado jumped to a one-goal halftime lead over fourth-seeded Bell Gardens in the Southern Section Division 2-A boys’ soccer final Saturday night at Gahr High School, but El Dorado coach Gary Imai watched it all unravel and wind up a 3-2 loss.

Bell Gardens erased El Dorado’s championship hopes and a 2-1 lead when junior Eric Hurtarte scored the tying goal, his second of the game, 8:17 into the second half. He then assisted on Javier Maciel’s go-ahead goal 55 seconds later pushing the Lancers to a 3-2 lead.

“Bell Gardens played a great second half tonight,” Imai said. “I thought we played well, but we just played against a better team.”

Bell Gardens took a 1-0 lead 13 minutes into the game when Hurtarte kicked the ball into an empty net after Fernando Loza sent a perfect crossing pass that left El Dorado goalie Blayne Leitner (10 saves) out of position.

El Dorado scored seven minutes later on a penalty kick by Scott Anderson, after Bell Gardens was whistled for a hand ball in the goalie box, tying the score, 1-1.

With 12 minutes remaining in the half, the Golden Hawks moved ahead on Rajai Qsar’s goal which came on a left-footed, 40-yard, looping chip shot.

Bell Gardens’ goaltender Guadalupe Gallegos lost the ball in the lights, and the ball got past the startled goalie, landing beneath the crossbar, but over the goal line for a 2-1 El Dorado lead.

“We gave them those two goals in the first half,” Bell Gardens coach Orlando Brenes said. “But we were in control of the game, and in the second half we wanted to bring up the tempo because we knew they were tired.”

Brenes pointed out that frequent substitutions by El Dorado signaled the fatigue.

“It breaks up the continuity when you keep substituting,” Brenes said. “Our kids are fit to play 90 minutes, and I think that was evident tonight.”

Bell Gardens’ high pressure wore down El Dorado, and Hurtarte’s 21st goal of the season and Maciel’s 14th, which came on a header 55 seconds later, proved Brenes’ point.

Although Imai has not won a title, he has led El Dorado to four playoff appearances, and said the Hawks will be back.