EMPIRE LEAGUE BOYS’ SOCCER : Massey Gives Esperanza Sole Possession of Title

The Empire League boys’ soccer championship was there for Esperanza as soon as Greg Massey looked for it.

Massey’s goal with less than two minutes remaining gave the visiting Aztecs a 1-0 victory over El Dorado Friday, as well as sole possession of the league title.

El Dorado (13-6-5, 6-2-2 in league) could have earned a co-championship with Esperanza (14-2-5, 8-0-2) with a victory, but Massey was in the right place at the right time to prevent that.

Before a throw-in from near the right corner, Massey circled around the pack of players in front of the goal and stopped near the left goal post. A moment later, Michael Johnson’s throw-in found its way through the crowd to Massey, who headed the ball in from about two yards out.

“I turned around, and (the ball) was right there,” Massey said. “All I had to do was make contact with it.”

The goal, Massey’s team-leading 13th of the year, came after Esperanza shook off a tentative first half, when it appeared the Aztecs were content to play for the tie that would also have clinched the championship.

“I think that was what we were doing in the first half,” Esperanza Coach Keno Oaxaca said. “But in the second half, we came out and played the way we can and started getting our forwards involved with the offense.”

Midway through the second half, the Aztecs had numerous scoring chances, but El Dorado goalkeeper Blayne Leitner made several good saves to keep the game scoreless.

In another league game:

Loara 1, Katella 0--Armbay Cakaria had a second-half goal to lead Loara (8-8-4, 4-5-1). Goalie Ruben Toledo had eight saves for Katella (7-11-3, 0-8-2).