PREP ROUNDUP : Bruised but Not Bowed, Anaheim Wins in Soccer

Entering its Orange League soccer match with Western, the Anaheim boys’ team was slightly bruised and battered.

By the end of the match, the Colonists were even more beat up, but they also had another league victory, a 4-1 decision Wednesday at Western.

Anaheim (11-1-8) is unbeaten in the Orange League at 4-0-1. Western (6-4-5, 2-1-2) is in a second-place tie with Valencia. The Colonists are ranked ninth in the Orange County Coaches’ Poll and eighth in the Southern Section 2-A Division.

Anaheim did not get on track until late in the first half. With eight minutes left in the half, senior Manny Sanchez scored from 10 yards out. Three minutes later, Jaime Garcia scored off a free kick taken by teammate Alex Perez.

The Colonists controlled most of the second half, but Western managed to score on Jeff Stodgel’s kick from 35 yards out 11 minutes into the second half, cutting the margin to 2-1.

Anaheim put the game away on goals by Eddy Escobar and Ramon Camacho. Armando Solis, who scored the tying goal against Valencia last Friday, went out of the match with 14 minutes left when he injured his calf.

“Four kids (William Monge, Perez, Garcia, Escobar) have nagging ankle injuries and two went down today,” said Anaheim Coach Joe Chavez. “We are fortunate we have the people on the bench, but I’m hoping the second half of the season proves to be better--healthwise.”