Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Fieldwork: Willow Glen forward Daniel Villafuerte, working the ball up the field against Alvarez, scored two goals in last weekend's win over Leigh.
Rams, Panthers in CCS semifinals
Villafuerte goals spark WG to win
By Dick Sparrer
They were close ... boy, were they close. But the Willow Glen boys and the Presentation girls each came through with victories in the Central Coast Section soccer quarterfinals on Saturday to advance to the "Final Four."
Willow Glen turned back Alvarez 2-1 in a first-round game, then the Rams edged Leigh 2-1 on Saturday with a brilliant second-half comeback to move into the CCS Division I semi's this week against Bellarmine.
The Rams, 18-1-3 for the year, will take on the Bells (21-0-2) on Feb. 22, 4:30 p.m., at San Jose PAL Stadium. Live Oak (16-2) will collide with Serra (14-3-4) in the other semi game at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The winner will face off against the Willow Glen-Bellarmine winner in the CCS Division I championship game on Feb. 25, 7 p.m., at PAL Stadium.
"We're playing Bellarmine in the semifinals, which we're looking forward to," said Willow Glen coach Sue Parisi. "They're very physical, and they're a passing team like we are. It will be a challenge for us."
The Bells are coming off of a tough 2-1 win over Homestead last Saturday. The Mustangs scored a first-half goal to tie the game 1-1 at the half, but the Bells scored in the second half to pull out the tight win.
"Homestead gave 'em a good game," said Parisi, who indicated that was encouraging for her Rams.
The Rams were playing a tight game the same day, though, scoring two goals in the second half to claim a 2-1 win over Leigh.
"They were so much bigger than us," said Parisi of the Longhorns. "But we played our passing game, and in the end that's what did it for us."
Leigh scored in the first half to lead 1-0 at intermission, but Willow Glen's passing attack led to a game-tying goal early in the second half.
Passes for Hugo Sigala, Osbi Gonzales and Michael Lawrence set up Daniel Villafuerte for the first of his two goals in the game.
Villafuerte scored again with just six minutes left to play to break the tie and give the Rams a 2-1 lead. "He beat the 'keeper, and just took it in," said Parisi. "From then on, it was everybody on defense."
Leigh managed to get off four shots in the final minutes against the tight defense, but WG goalkeeper Christian Jimenez was unpenetrable. "He had three really close saves that helped us win the game," said Parisi of her junior keeper.
Along with Jimenez, the coach praised the work of Saul Villatoro, Rudy Ochoa, Manolo Rosales and Sigala for their defensive efforts. "Our defense did a good job," she said. "They're the strength of our team."
Willow Glen had opened the week with a 2-1 win over Alvarez.
"We dominated that game," said the coach of the contest that belied the final score.
Juan Rivera knocked in a penalty kick and Oscar Garcia scored off a Rivera assist to give the Rams a 2-0 lead by the half. Alvarez scored late in the second half, but couldn't threaten again against Jimenez, who came through with nine saves in the win.
Willow Glen fired off 26 shots in the game with Garcia leading the offensive assault.
"He was everywhere," said Parisi of the junior forward. She also singled out Lawrence for "putting some beautiful crossing passes into the middle."
Panthers play on
The Presentation girls, meanwhile, edged Notre Dame-Belmont on penalty kicks to move into the CCS Division II semifinals.
The Panthers, 15-2-5 for the year, will face Carlmont (19-1-2) on Feb. 23, 2:30 p.m., at West Valley Community College in Saratoga. Harbor (18-1) and Mitty (19-1-1) square off on Feb. 22, 2:30 p.m., at West Valley with the winner to face the Presentation-Carlmont winner for the CCS championship on Feb. 26, 12:30 p.m., at San Jose PAL Stadium.
Presentation knocked in three penalty kicks to just one for Notre Dame-Belmont to win the quarterfinal game on Saturday.
Rachel Field had scored a first-half goal off a Jennifer Tuttle assist to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage at intermission, but Notre Dame tied it 1-1 by the end of regulation.
The clubs played through four scoreless overtimes before the Panthers won the game on penalty kicks.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
