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Cougars complete perfect VOL run
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STOCKTON — Francisco Cisneros is a member of a club few coaches get to join: Club Perfect.

Weston Ranch completed a 14-0 run in winning its first-ever Valley Oak League champion with Wednesday’s 4-0 victory over visiting Sierra.

 “We are all going to enjoy this because it may never happen again,” Cougars coach Francisco Cisneros said. “We will enjoy this today and maybe tomorrow, but then we have to focus on the playoffs.

“What these boys accomplished was amazing. So many things have to go right to go 14-0 because there are a lot of good teams in the VOL.”

The field conditions at Weston Ranch ranged from bad to quagmire as overwatering gave the field the look of having just been hit by a monsoon.

“Today our field conditions kind of got in the way,” Cisneros said. “But it is something we may have to be ready for later on if it is rainy.

“This was just a tough game. We knew they wanted it and wanted to mess up these guys’ senior night and our guys responded with a solid performance and we will take the win.”

The Cougars (14-0 VOL, 21-2-3) did not waste any time in setting the tone. Four minutes in, Hector Maldonado took a pass from Arthur Garcia and got the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.

“That was a good way to start the night,” Maldonado said. “It was a good pass from Garcia, a fellow senior.”

In the 15th minute senior Luis Esparza lined up a penalty kick and drilled it into the corner for the first goal of his high-school career and a 2-0 Weston Ranch lead.

“It was nice to get my first high-school goal on senior night,” Esparza said. “It felt pretty good.”

Joseph Mayorca added two goals for the Cougars in the second half – one on a breakaway and the other on an assist from Francisco Garcia.

Eduardo Acosta and Jose Martinez took turns in the net for Weston Ranch, combining for six saves.

While the season is not going to continue for the Timberwolves (4-8-2, 8-15-3), they would have liked nothing better than to put a blemish on the Cougars’ record.

“We knew we had a chance to be the spoiler,” Sierra coach Joe Pires said. “We fought hard but it just didn’t happen. We had some pretty good looks but we could not get one to go in there.

“They are a good team and for them to wrap it up playing at home congratulations to them.”

Were it not for an outstanding effort by Timberwolves goalie Christian Montes in the second half with three spectacular saves, the score could have been worse.

“We have two goalkeepers and we kind of alternate,” Pires said. “Montes is a good athlete and has good reactions.”

If Weston Ranch is slotted in Division III in the playoffs the Cougars will host a playoff game Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. A Division IV seed will mean the Cougars open postseason play on Nov. 6.

 

Kimball 4, Lathrop 2

Ulysses Almanza scored both goals for Lathrop (3-9-1, 10-13-2), which led 2-1 at one point. Daniel Lizcano contributed an assist.

“We were controlling the pace of the game and some lousy mistakes led to counter attacks,” Lathrop coach Alfredo Reynaga said. “We kept fighting, and I’m very proud of our boys and the effort and class they showed throughout the whole season.”



Frosh-soph

Weston Ranch 3, Sierra 2

The Cougars never trailed in the season-ending contest.

Mario Martinez had one goal for Weston Ranch and Bryant Ortiz two. Juan Guzman and Brandon Dullan each had a goal for the Timberwolves.