With two games remaining on the Western Athletic Conference boys soccer schedule, Lathrop entered Thursday night’s game with visiting Central Valley leading second-place Pacheco by three points.

After the stunning 2-0 win by the Hawks at Bennie Gatto Field, coupled with Pacheco’s tie, the Spartans now enter the season finale at Beyer on Tuesday with a two-point lead over Pacheco.

“That is the worst game we have played this season,” Lathrop coach Alfredo Reynaga said. “Missed opportunities, a missed PK (penalty kick) — usually, we capitalize on those.

“This is a perfect game to watch on film, because as we head into the playoffs, we can’t get sloppy because we are down one goal. We normally aren’t down by a goal, so this will be a learning process.”

The Spartans (9-3-1 WAC, 17-5-2 overall) had a chance to halve the lead by Central Valley (6-4-3, 8-10-6) on a second-half penalty kick, but it was blocked and that put momentum squarely in the Hawks’ pocket.

“I think that if that penalty kick would have gone in our favor that would have changed the momentum of the game,” Reynaga said. “Those are the critical moments we talk about in soccer.”

The Hawks took a 2-0 lead into the second half with a rebound goal by Elias Godinez and a crossing shot into the upper corner of the net by Alejandro Valencia when Lathrop went on the attack with six shots on goal in the second half alone, with one off the crossbar. The Spartans totaled nine shots on goal to just five for Central Valley with the Hawks converting two of those for goals.

Midway through the second half, Lathrop’s Andres Garcia drew a yellow card in the box from Central Valley goalie Osvaldo Cisneros, giving the Spartans a penalty kick against backup goalie Damyan Garcia, who blocked the penalty kick and gave the Hawks a huge boost.

“That was amazing, honestly,” Central Valley coach Horacio Garcia-Martinez said of Garcia’s block. “All of our goal keepers are specialists on PKs. He is one of those players that always gets where the ball is going. He dove to the left and was able to get his right foot out to get the block and that really gave us the energy to finish the game.

“The kids performed the best they have all season. I am really happy we were able to come here and get a win against a quality team.”

Lathrop’s game at Beyer on Tuesday is set to start at 3 p.m.

Junior varsity

Central Valley 3, Lathrop 1

Angel Avila scored the goal for the Spartans.