HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS : Delgado Lifts Banning to City 4-A Title, 1-0

Wilmington Banning High forward Juan Delgado headed in a shot from 10 yards out with 15 minutes remaining in the game, lifting his team to a 1-0 victory over Garfield on Saturday afternoon in the City Section Division 4-A soccer final at East L.A. College.

The assist went to Rene Ramirez after Delgado, a sophomore, beat a Bulldog defender to the ball and directed it past Garfield goaltender Angel Martinez.

“We’ve been practicing that play all week,” Delgado said. “I broke for the ball and luckily it went in.”

Delgado’s goal came as a surprise, considering Garfield had controlled the ball much of the game.

Garfield (15-2-4) failed to convert on numerous scoring opportunities, including a clean shot near the penalty box by Gerardo Gomez that was saved by Banning goaltender Luis Morales with 11 minutes remaining.

Twice in the first half, the Bulldogs missed wide of the goal on open shots.

Morales had 10 saves, leading second-seeded Banning (21-0-1) to its first soccer title.