Defense key for top-ranked LHS, PHS
Lindsay is No. 3 in Central Section, Porterville No. 4 in Div. III
High school coaches like to say that once league starts, the record is 0-0 and everyone’s got a chance, but between two local teams what they’ve done in preseason are making strong cases for possible league titles and in the case of Lindsay — a second-straight Valley title.
According to Maxpreps.com, the Cardinals (13-1-2, 1-0 ESL), as well as the Porterville Panthers (9-6-1, 1-1 EYL), are already top five teams in their respective divisions while Lindsay is ranked No. 3 in the entire CIF Central Section already. Both teams have exceptional defenses that have helped carry them to their top spots.
In the case of the defending Div. IV Valley champions Lindsay, a solid defensive core consisting of Agustin Valdovinos, Chris Orozco and Oscar Lira have led the Cardinals to six shutouts and allowed for big games from defending East Sequoia League MVP, striker Marcos Ceballos, as well as Moises Betencourt.
“That’s the common denominator the last three years, super strong defensively,” LHS head coach Tony Godoy said. “They allow us to go forward.”
But tonight on the road against rival Strathmore (5-61, 1-0 ESL) for a 6 p.m. game, the Cardinals are without Lira and Valdovinos who are out due to vacation and an injury, respectively. Valdovinos was injured early in the first half of Lindsay’s 6-0 shutout of Corcoran (4-7, 0-1 ESL) in the Cardinals ESL home-opener Wednesday.
“You can tell we’re missing him,” Godoy said. “You can tell we’re just not the same back there. There’s a little bit of a hole. You can tell he’s been working all offseason to have this be his best year. He holds down the midfield, the defensive end, really well. He allowed us to break forward with only three guys knowing he’s back there.”
Godoy is looking to Orozco, and junior Silviano Loza who is stepping in for Lira, to continue to have big games for the team. As one of the fastest players, not only on the team, but in the school as well — Orozco’s speed continues to be one of his greatest contributions to the Cardinals.
“Just so hard to get by,” Godoy said about Orozco and Lira. “Even our top players, when we’re out here in practice are having a difficult time getting it behind them, but now that Oscar went to Mexico, Silviano Loza, he’s really stepping in to that role. But defensively our wingers are really good, super aggressive,
hard to get behind and then Chris is in the back. He’s so fast. Even if a guy beats him 10 yards, he’ll catch up.”
Despite having some of his top players out, Godoy is confident that his team can get past the Spartans in what could be a game that decides the ESL title.
“Definitely Strathmore is going to be the team to compete with us,” he said. “Woodlake is showing promise, but I think the two games between Strathmore will decide league...i have confidence that we’ll win, but anything can happen. They beat us last year [in Strathmore] and you never know. They’re a well-coached team so you never know what can happen.”
Lindsay’s lone loss this season was too Div. IV Washington Union, while their two scoreless ties came against the Central Section’s No. 2 Central (10-3-4) out of Div. I and Div. II’S Reedley (5-6-4).
EAST YOSEMITE LEAGUE
Panthers are No. 4 in Div. III
Despite a 3-2 loss to Tulare Western (5-5-3, 2-0 EYL) Wednesday evening, Porterville is still in a good position to get at least a share of
the EYL title, but that chance will be seriously tested tonight when they travel to Tulare Union (13-2-3, 2-0 EYL) for an inter-div. III game at 6 p.m. Both the Tribe and the Panthers are ranked high in Div. III with Porterville at No. 4 and Tulare Union at No. 2.
“We’ve got a tough game tomorrow against probably the strongest team in EYL so it’ll be a good test for us,” PHS head coach Eddie Gutierrez said. Union, who are the defending EYL champions and made it to the quarterfinals of playoffs last season, have posted four shutouts in their last five game.
Porterville’s defense is also one of their biggest strengths with their nine wins coming from three shutouts and six wins where opponents only scored one goal. However, the team has been hit with an injury bug that’s sidelined at least three crucial defenders in Daniel Cervantez, David Sandoval and Daniel Tadeo.
“I think we match up pretty good against Union,” Gutierrez added. “I’ve watched them play a couple of times and it’s just, we got to get healthy. That’s the
main thing. The crazy thing is the defense has been really good. I think we’ve had three shutouts in a row. And all our injuries are on defense. So the guys have stepped it up that have filled in those spots. It’s going good.”
Sandoval, who was injured at the annual Lindsay tournament in early December, should return on Jan. 19 and Cervantez is beginning to train again with the team. Unfortunately Tadeo is more than likely out for the season. In their injured players’ place, the Panthers are getting big-time play from Angel Lucatero, Aaron Bedolla and many others.
“Aaron Bedolla, he’s stepped it up big time,” Gutierrez said. “He’s a defender, but he’s been kind of playing on the left, on the right, sometimes in the middle. He’s been big time. Angel Lucatero’s been filling in there and he’s been doing really well. The other day at Mission Oak we had to use Ivan Alcantar. He’s not a defender, but the kid is amazing back there. So we’re just trying stuff out and it’s working so far. The kids are doing a good job so far.”