 | Downey’s Elise Neville blocks a shot from Turlock’s Tatiana Fregosi, left, but the Knights couldn’t block the Bulldogs from a win Tuesday. |
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By Richard T. Estrada
restrada@modbee.com
As the ball ricocheted off Scott Cunningham's head and toward the goal post, Sierra High's Rodriglo Lopez jumped to his left and tipped the ball out of danger.
Two minutes later, the Timberwolves' goalie dove right -- this time swatting away the ball as it skipped toward him on the slick artificial turf at Downey High.
The plays proved to be invaluable, as Sierra rode its first-half offense and Lopez's defensive effort to a 4-2 win over Downey.
"I'll try to anticipate where the ball will end up by watching the player, seeing where he's looking," said Lopez, the backup goalie last year. "Goalies should never guess where the ball's going."
Downey's goals came on penalty kicks, one in each half by forward Cunningham. If not for Lopez's second-half acrobatics, he would have had another.
"Anticipation is looking at the play and predicting where a ball is going to end up," Lopez said. "Guessing is where you have no idea where it's going, and you just leap one way or another."
Oscar Garcia and Brian Gomez had two goals apiece for Sierra (2-6), which led 3-1 at the half.
The record is deceiving, Sierra coach Jose Montes said, because of the Timberwolves' schedule.
"We have an experienced team and wanted to be challenged, so we lined up Division 1 schools," said Montes, whose club was in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-IV final two years ago. "If we're going to play for the championship again, we've got to be tested."
Sierra is a contender in the Valley Oak League, which has won four section titles in six years.
"If you make the playoffs from the VOL, you're good enough to make the section semifinal or final," Montes said. "It's a strong league and gets you ready for the playoffs. That's our goal now."
ATWATER 5, HILMAR 3, at Atwater -- Jorge Carmona got the Falcons (7-1-2) off to a 4-1 halftime lead on their way past the Yellowjackets (2-4), scoring two goals and assisting on another. It was the first soccer game on Atwater's artificial turf and provided a "first" that might not be matched: Hilmar's Bettencourt brothers -- Alex, Jordan and Simon -- each scored a goal.
MARIPOSA 4, ORESTIMBA 2, at Mariposa -- Jason Buskeness had two goals, but it was the play of goalie Steven LeMessurier that secured the Grizzlies' (1-2-1) win. "They couldn't get the ball past Steven," said Mariposa coach Adam Finney, whose goalie had a career-high 23 saves.
AMADOR 6, RIPON CHR. 0, at Ripon -- Matt Stevens celebrated a hat trick and goalies Scott Allen and Mike Cooper only had to save a shot apiece as the Buffaloes (2-3-2) routed the Knights. Amador scored four goals in the second to pull away.
Volleyball
TURLOCK 3, DOWNEY 0, at Turlock -- Central California Conference play won't begin for another two weeks, but the Bulldogs (4-1) showed they're ready for that challenge by rolling past the Knights (0-4) 25-8, 25-12, 25-9).
Setter Tatiana Fregosi (19 assists) spent the night setting up Hilary Hernandez (eight kills) and Shanice Brown (two blocks) on the front line.
GOLDEN VALLEY 3, CHAVEZ 2, at Merced -- Setter Ali Hague took advantage of the marathon match to collect 55 assists and lift the Cougars (3-0) to a 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-9 victory. Celeste Castillo (16 kills), Katelyn Bennett (13 kills) and Gina Bandoni (11) were kept busy by their industrious teammate.
BIG VALLEY 3, WATERFORD 1, at Modesto -- Five-foot-8-inch setter Annika Rigney was all over the court for the Lions, providing a surprising six kills, and keyed a strong fourth game as the Lions (2-0) beat the Wildcats (0-4) 15-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-18. The
"It's not often that your setter is also one of your leaders in kills, but there were a lot of tips at the net and Annika was hitting them right back," Big Valley coach Larry Hagstrom said.
PATTERSON 3, CENTRAL VALLEY 1, at Ceres -- Tauheedah Gaines was impressed with the performance her young Hawks (0-3) delivered, even though they dropped the four-set match 25-9, 25-27, 25-22, 25-13. "It's a rebuilding year," she said, noting the Hawks used good teamwork while playing their most difficult foe to date.
ORESTIMBA 3, MARIPOSA 1, at Newman -- The Warriors (5-0) are showing they will have a say in who wins the Western Athletic Conference. Ryan Ramos' play at the net and Carlee Felber's ability to control the tempo paved the way for a 15-25, 26-24, 25-14, 25-18 win over the Grizzlies (2-2), part of Orestimba's preparation for conference play and defending champ Hilmar.
"Ramos took over in the last three games," Orestimba coach John Labno said.
