SOCCER : Mules Kick the Dems for League Title
Victor Arana’s goal gave Wilson a 1-0 win over Jefferson and the Northwest League championship Friday.
When the two teams met Wednesday at Wilson, it was the Democrats who came out on top, 1-0. Jefferson’s Gilberto Gomez goal ended the Mules’ six-game unbeaten streak.
Jefferson (5-2-1, 1-1-1) and Wilson (5-1-2, 2-1) played back-to-back games for the league title.
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Friday was the last day of the regular soccer season but, with 32 playoffs slots to fill, several area schools will see postseason action.
At the top of the list are the undefeated squads of Bell (8-0-1 in conference, 4-0 in league) and Garfield (5-0-3, 4-0), both of the Southeastern Conference and champions of their respective leagues. Meanwhile in the Northern Conference, Belmont (5-1-2, 3-0) secured its Northeast League title and is tied with Wilson for the conference title.
The seeding meeting will take place Tuesday. Playoff matches begin Thursday.
In Wednesday action:
Bell 1, South Gate 0--Eagle striker Maynor Alvarez scored on a free kick through a four-man wall in the 25th minute of the Southeastern Conference match.
Roosevelt 1, Jordan 1--Bulldog Andrick Hernandez scored on a breakaway in the 15th minute to open the scoring. Five minutes later, Roughrider Alfonso Fuentes scored off a pass from David Medina for the equalizer.
Garfield 2, Huntington Park 1--The Bulldogs scored both goals within the first seven minutes of an Eastern League contest--Romeo Cordova on a breakaway, followed by Dennis Valladares with a personal play. Jesus Cadenas scored the lone Spartan goal by beating the goalie with a hook shot to the upper-right corner before the first half ended.
Locke 2, Fremont 0--Ricardo Chavez scored in the 26th minute and Alberto Trujillo in the 38th on headers to put away the visiting Pathfinders in a Central League contest.
Belmont 7, Lincoln 0--Roberto Reyes scored twice in the second half on passes by Eric Hernandez to lift the Sentinels in a Northern Conference match. Hernandez and Salvador Gochez started the rout in the second and fourth minutes of the game. Jose Salmeron, Julio Vidrio and Nelson Moran each tallied once.
Fairfax 2, Manual Arts 1--Edwin Rivera scored his eighth goal of season and gave the Toilers a 1-0 lead five minutes into the Metro League match. But with five starters sidelined by injuries, the Toilers’ hopes of qualifying for the playoffs were destroyed when the Lions came back with two goals.
In Friday games:
Roosevelt 3, Jordan 1--Bulldog striker Salvador Siordia opened the scoring, but the Roughriders came back with goals by Alfredo Amado, Raul Lazaro and Alfonso Fuentes. With the victory, Roosevelt finished in second place in the Eastern League at 3-3-1, 2-2-1. Jordan ended its season at 0-6-2, 0-3-2.
Garfield 2, Huntington Park 0--Gerardo Gomez and Luis Garcia scored goals to secure the Bulldogs’ Eastern League title. The Spartans finished 1-4-3, 1-3-1.
Locke 3, Fremont 1--The Saints foiled defending City Section champion Fremont’s chances of advancing to the playoffs. E. Esperaza, Oscar Zendejas and Ricardo Chavez each tallied once to put away the Pathfinders in a Central League match. Locke finished 3-4-1, 2-3; Fremont was 1-3-3, 1-4.
Bell 4, South Gate 2--The Eagles were down 2-1 into the second half as strikers Osbaldo Macedo and Carlos Osorio each scored for the Rams. Angel Navarro, Oswaldo Williams, Hector Galdamez and Maynor Alvarez were Bell’s scoring machine, cranking out the goals for the Central League win. The Rams finished 3-5-1, 2-3.
Belmont 2, Lincoln 1--Sentinel Jose Salmeron scored the winning goal in a Northern Conference match.
