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Ripon opens BV Tournament with victory
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MODESTO — Ripon High kicked off the Big Valley Tournament Friday afternoon at Big Valley Christian with a 4-0 win over Rite of Passage.

Justin Scott hooked up Matty Gay for the forward’s first goal of the season 10 minutes in and the Indians coasted into the half up one.

“Tournaments are a little different because you have to come out quick,” Ripon head coach Jamie DeBruyn said. “I’m glad we were able to clamp down defensively in the second half. It started creating more opportunities on the offensive end.”

Caleb Christian, Brett Clark, Johnny Dedonatis and Matt Ratto combine to form Ripon’s defense, and all four were on top of their games Friday.

“That’s going to be our bread and butter this year,” DeBruyn said. “We have three seniors and a junior on defense, and two all-leaguers in Caleb and Johnny.”

Gay made it 2-0 in the 28th minute off an assist from David Paden, and then Paden put the Indians up three five minutes later off a help from Clark.

Bryant Macias added the cherry on top off a corner from Ratto.

“(Ratto) is a nice little weapon on cornerkicks,” DeBruyn said. “His corners have been consistently working for us. That’s going to be a nice advantage once we get into league play.”

Tim Combley (four saves) recorded his first clean sheet of the season, turning in a trio of saves on legitimate Passage scoring opportunities.

“It’s good to see Tim extending out and making some quality saves,” DeBruyn said.

Ripon will face wither Faith Christian or Venture Academy today at 10 a.m.

With a win, the Indians (4-0) will guarantee themselves two more contests and a shot at either the championship, or the consolation championship.

Weston Ranch 1, Chavez 1

In North Stockton, a shoving match following a headlock placed on a Weston Ranch player ended the contest three minutes early, but that didn’t put a damper on the Cougars’ accomplishment.

“Chavez is a good team,” Weston Ranch head coach Carlos Gaspar said. “We played well and gave them a good match.”

The deadlock was another sign that Weston Ranch is headed in the right direction. Last weekend, Chavez took home Sierra’s Timberwolf Cup championship.

The Cougars benefited from a Chavez own goal 30 seconds in that Ben Gonzalez was able to get a foot on for the credit.

Keeper Jesus Pacheco continued to impress in net, blocking a Chavez penalty kick in the second half to preserve the tie.

“We were a little sloppy in the beginning,” Gaspar said. “At half, I told them they have to step it up, and they were able to.”

Weston Ranch (1-1-1) returns to Guss Schmiedt Field today at 10 a.m. for the continuation of the Buffalo Cup.

The Cougars face Los Banos in the second round.

— Brandon Petersen