SOCCER ROUNDUP : Bell Hammers Belmont in Overtime, 4-3

The Bell High boys’ soccer team defeated top-seeded Belmont High in the first round of the City Section playoffs Wednesday in a grueling overtime match decided by a sudden-death penalty kick.

The Eagles (8-2-2) entered the match as a wild-card team after defeating North Hollywood on Tuesday. Belmont (11-1-1) went into the game undefeated.

After a scoreless first half, the Sentinels opened the scoring in the 62nd minute when striker Eric Hernandez found the back of the net on a low shot from close range.

Six minutes later, a controversial hand ball was overturned in the Sentinels’ penalty area. About a minute later, Bell’s Filiberto Madrigal was fouled in the area and Osvaldo Williams executed a perfect penalty kick for the 1-1 tie that would take the match into 30 minutes of overtime.

Ernesto Serratos scored on a penalty shot, giving Bell the lead. Belmont tied the game at 2 on a goal by Roberto Reyes, then David Vera scored to put the Sentinels ahead, 3-2. Belmont goalie Walter Argueta made his 13th and last save on a shot by Jose Corado to set up the winning penalty kick for Carlos Morales. But Morales blasted the ball wide and Williams later evened it to 3-3.

On the sudden-death penalty kicks that followed, Sentinel Efrain Escamilla’s try missed, leaving Bell’s Jorge Iberri to hammer the ball in for the winning goal.

BOYS’ GAMES FRIDAY

Monroe 2, Washington 0--Washington High forward Elio Guzman, who had four goals in the Generals’ first-round playoff win, was shut out as third-seed Monroe triumphed in a City Section quarterfinal match.

Guzman had several excellent scoring chances in the opening half but couldn’t convert them. Viking forward Nicolas Duran scored both Monroe goals in the first half.

Fremont 5, Manual Arts 3--Cesar Villalobos scored two goals and had an assist as the Pathfinders won their quarterfinal match at Fremont.

The Pathfinders improved to 13-1-1 and will play host to Bell on Tuesday.

San Pedro 2, Jefferson 1--The Pirates (13-3-1) scored twice in the first half on goals by Ive Grgas and Marcos Vargas in a second-round match.

Salesian 0, Cathedral 0--With a scoreless tie, the Mustangs, undefeated at home this season, and Salesian will share the Santa Fe League title.

WEDNESDAY

Washington 5, Palisades 3--Elio Guzman scored four goals as the Generals eliminated Palisades from the first round of the City Section playoffs.

After Guzman scored the first goal, Generals striker Octavio Pandura nailed a perfect volley outside the penalty box in the 28th minute to put Washington (7-2-0) ahead 2-0. But Palisades (8-3-3) came back with goals by Roberto Sordo and Aaron Yarkoni late in the first half.

After Guzman scored his second goal to give the Generals a 3-2 lead early in the second half, Washington goalie Alfredo Hernandez made a goal for the tie.

Guzman completed the hat trick on a personal play, beating a defender and the goalie for a close-range left-footed shot, then followed with another goal to cap the 5-3 victory.

Manual Arts 2, Venice 1--Selvin Pineda scored two spectacular breakaway goals in the first half to lead the Toilers to a muddy victory over the visiting Gondoliers in a first round playoff game.

After being dominated much of the game, Venice bounced back in the second half, consistently keeping the ball on the Toilers’ end of the field.

Manual Arts goalie Francisco Gonzalez turned in an outstanding performance, allowing the Gondoliers to score only one goal against the tiring Toiler defense.

Fremont 3, Kennedy 2--Ramon Avendado’s two first-half goals on penalty kicks led the Pathfinders to victory over the Golden Cougars in a first round playoff game .

The Pathfinders were holding a shaky 2-1 halftime lead when Hugo Valencia made an excellent pass to a streaking Juan Monroy, who pounded the ball into the net from inside the box.

Jefferson 3, Birmingham 0--Senior midfielder Jose Vargas tallied two goals in the first half on free kicks to lead the Democrats to a first-round playoff win.

TUESDAY

Salesian 4, Daniel Murphy 0--Mustang striker Octavio Alvarez scored two goals in the first half, both on fast breaks, to overpower Daniel Murphy in a first-round Santa Fe League playoff match.

GIRLS’ GAME

Palisades 4, Garfield 0--The Lady Bulldogs succumbed to a muddy field and a powerful opponent as the Dolphins easily won a first-round playoff game Wednesday.