Channel Islands reaches Division 2 boys soccer final; Pacifica falls in semifinals - VC Star

Channel Islands reaches Division 2 boys soccer final; Pacifica falls in semifinals - VC Star

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Channel Islands winger Jose Ortiz scored the lone goal on Saturday night as the Raiders advanced to their four CIF-Southern Section final with a 1-0 win at La Habra in the Division 2 semifinals.

 (Photo: PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE COFFARO)

The Channel Islands High boys soccer team has earned another shot at its “elusive” championship.  

Winger Jose Ortiz scored from 20 yards out in the 37th minute as the top-seeded Raiders edged host La Habra, 1-0, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 semifinals on Saturday night.

“I’m so happy for these boys because these boys deserve it,” Channel Islands coach Adrian Garcia said. “They’ve been doing it all season long. It just feels good when all the hard work pays off.”

Gio Benavides had the assist and Jesus Lagunas and Adrian Contreras combined on the shutout for Channel Islands (20-3-3), which will play Bellflower-St. John Bosco for the Division 2 championship on Saturday, Feb. 29, at a site to be announced.

CI coach Adrian Garcia on the semifinal win at La Habra: “We’re just looking to... make sure that we get that title that’s been elusive for a very long time, every since our beloved Rogelio Juarez took over and built that foundation for us.” @cihs_raiders@CIBoysSoccer#ForJuarezpic.twitter.com/ExFGKfUGIz

— VCS Preps (@vcspreps) February 23, 2020

“We’ve got to keep going,” Garcia said. “It’s not good enough. Still got one more to go.”

It will be the fourth final in 11 years for Channel Islands, which lost section finals in 2009 (Division IV), 2012 (Division 3) and 2013 (Division 3) under former coach Rogelio Juarez, who died of cancer in January 2014.

“We’re just looking to ... make sure that we get that title that’s been elusive for a very long time, ever since our beloved Rogelio Juarez took over and built that foundation for us,” Garcia said.

Channel Islands High boys soccer celebrates reaching the @CIFSS Division 2 final @cihs_raiders@cihssports@CIBoysSoccerpic.twitter.com/4osHHdvrHI

— VCS Preps (@vcspreps) February 23, 2020

Channel Islands has only lost one of its last 15 matches, but La Habra (16-7-4) opened strongly behind the dangerous combination of forwards Tanner Coombs and Brady Hart, who had combined for 36 goals.

“The first 15 minutes, those guys were on top of us,” Garcia said.

La Habra had not been shut out since Jan. 10.

“Once we settled down, our defense started to understand those two guys up top,” Garcia said. “We started touching the ball around.”

Ortiz struck from distance three minutes before halftime, but Channel Islands wasn’t able to add an insurance goal, meaning the game hung in the balance until the full-time whistle.

“I was really impressed with the way everybody defended as a team,” Garcia said.

Bellflower-St. John Bosco 1, Pacifica 0: Jailen Mathis popped in a goal in goalmouth scramble in first-half stoppage time as St. John Bosco, which needed a stoppage-time equalizer to survive Hueneme on penalty kicks in the first round, spoiled the potential all-Oxnard Division 2 final.

The lone goal came from a late corner kick. Pacifica had several opportunities to clear, but Mathis snuck a shot inside the near post on the fourth attempt.

It was the only goal Pacifica (10-9-2) conceded during the postseason. The Tritons, who eliminated second-seeded Simi Valley in the first round, had shut out their first three playoff opponents.

40’ GOAL: St. John Bosco takes the 1-0 lead in first half stoppage time. Jailen Mathis pops in the opener after a goalmouth scramble. Pacifica couldn’t clear after a corner. @phs_tritons@boyssoccerphs@pacificatritonspic.twitter.com/dmdtIEASgY

— VCS Preps (@vcspreps) February 22, 2020

“We played a hard game,” said senior fullback Scooter Carranza, who won a state championship with the football team. “Everybody fought for every ball, which is how we made it this far.”

Pacifica had won seven of nine games since starting the season 3-7-2, but was missing its captain and midfield leader. Junior J.P. Melgoza was with the Olympic Development Program Region IV team which played against the Costa Rican national team this week.

“We need J.P. in the midfield,” Pacifica coach Raul Villegas said. “He knows what you have to do in a game like this. We needed his experience.”

Pacifica dominated the game for the opening 20 minutes, lead by a series of chances created by forwards Eric Ayala, Jorge Arrellano and Miguel Castellanos.

Ayala was pulled down in the penalty area, but not awarded a penalty kick in the fifth minute.

Pacifica pushed forward in the final 20 minutes, but an equalizer did not come.

62’ CHANCE: Huge save off this 50-yard free kick by Pacifica’s Ian Motelongo @phs_tritons@boyssoccerphspic.twitter.com/i47mdvguAz

— VCS Preps (@vcspreps) February 23, 2020

“My kids played really hard,” Villegas said. “But we didn’t finish. We didn’t play like we usually play. That’s the game. You can play a really good game, but if you don’t finish, you’re done.”

Joe Curley covers soccer for The Star. Follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram for more high school sports coverage.

2020-02-23 07:48:00Z
https://www.vcstar.com/story/sports/high-school/soccer/2020/02/22/channel-islands-reaches-div-2-boys-soccer-final-pacifica-falls-semis/4849293002/

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