Late score lifts Spartans to perfect season
EL CENTRO — Heading into the final Imperial Valley League of the season, the Central Union High girls’ soccer team only had a victory in its sights.
A loss or a tie against crosstown rival Southwest High was not an option as the Spartans were chasing perfection and looking to tie up the IVL season with an unblemished record of 12-0.
As if that weren’t enough, Central is also ranked No. 1 in the CIF-San Diego Section Div. III soccer standings, a spot the team intended to keep no matter the circumstances.
The only thing standing in their way was a hungry Southwest High squad that had fallen to the Spartans twice before earlier in the season, making the teams’ third matchup a highly anticipated event that would also determine the recipient of the City Championship trophy.
After two exciting and competitive halves of action, it was the visiting Spartans that celebrated on Eagle Field after a late score lifted Central to a 1-0 victory here Thursday night.
Central dropped the lone goal of the game late in the second half after about 15 minutes of continuous attacks on the Eagle goal.
“I was just hoping for an opportunity to be able to put it in the net,” stated Central head coach Ramon Lopez. “Those last 15 minutes or so we had plenty of shots, but their goalie played a great game. I think against any other team we may have scored a little sooner.”
It was indeed a display of athleticism between both keepers as the Eagles’ Lorena Perez and Central’s Ashley Quiroz each came up with key saves throughout the game.
Despite Perez’s dominance at the goal, a set play by the Spartans was executed to perfection, highlighting the team’s third-consecutive IVL title and second-straight City Champs win.
The game-winning goal came off a free-kick from Arely Pacheco to the middle of the goalie box that was met with a flawless header from Dayleth Palacios that sent the ball to the back of the net.
“I tell the girls all the time at practice that in close games it can come down to plays like that and they can’t be scared to put a head on the ball,” Lopez said.
The score was Palacios’ third of the week and sent the Spartans into Saturday’s CIF-SDS seeding meeting on a high note.
Central concludes the regular season with an overall record of 17-2 and a league record of 12-0, while the Eagles wrap up overall at 9-8-4 and 6-4-2 in IVL.