Downey gets best of Warren in soccer league opener

DOWNEY - The Warren High School girls' soccer team opened up their league season with a 1-0 loss to cross-town rival Downey at home on Tuesday night. The Lady Bears are currently 0-1 in league play and will travel to Dominguez today and play the Lady Dons.The Lady Bears competed in the North Orange County Classic Tournament over the Christmas Break where valuable game experience was gained. The Lady Bears tied Cabrillo 2-2 on Dec. 27, lost to South Torrance 5-0, also on Dec. 27, and lost to Arroyo Grande 2-0 on Dec. 28. The Lady Bears have been playing a tough preseason schedule in order to prepare themselves for league play. The Lady Bears were the third place finishers last season from the San Gabriel Valley League behind C.I.F. and league champion Downey and second place finishers Lynwood, respectively. With the success of San Gabriel Valley League teams last season, the S.G.V.L. will compete in Division IV this year. The Lady Bears return ten players from a young squad last season and also add several junior varsity payers from a 6-3-1 team. Key varsity returners to this year's squad include Celinna "the woman" Montano, Vicky Hernandez, Elli Spain, Sarah McGarry and Laura Aquije. Several standout players that have moved up to varsity from the junior varsity squad include Briana Mira, Karina Mendez, Mariana Rodriguez, Samantha Sandaval and Clarissa Alvarez. The Lady Bears are looking to improve upon last year's 15-8-4 overall record 6-3-1 league record. The Lady Bears defeated Desert Mountain League champion Lancaster 2-1 in the first round of the C.I.F. Division V playoffs before losing to Woodcrest Christian on penalty kicks in the second round. Coach Taracena continues to work hard with her team and is hopeful for a nice run in league play and into the C.I.F. Division IV playoffs. Boys Soccer The Warren High School boys' soccer team currently has an overall record of 1-6-6 and a league record of 0-0-1. The Bears traveled to cross-town rival Downey on Tuesday night in the league opener for both schools and played to a 1-1 tie. The Bears outshot the host Vikings 21-6 but only managed to get one shot on goal "past the white line." Downey currently has an overall record of 6-2-3 and have the same 0-0-1 league record due to the tie. The score stood 0-0 at halftime. Downey struck first in the second half when Ernesto Patino scored on a left footed shot past Bear goalkeeper Christopher Dominguez in the 59th minute. In the 63rd minute, the Bears answered back when senior captain Brandon Herrerias scored the equalizer goal to make it a 1-1 game. The score stayed that way until the final whistle blew. Downey Coach Steve Barber was happy with his team's play and was pleased his team "defended their home turf." Barber maintains that his squad is "going in the right direction" and will continue to work hard. Despite his frustration with the shot on goal differential, Coach Pena was pleased with his team's effort and the fact that his Bear squad continued to play hard to come back. The Bears are coming off losses to St. Augustine 3-1 and Ballarmine 4-1 both on December 27th at the Nike Tournament of Champions Tournament held in San Diego over the Christmas Break.

********** Published: January 10, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 39

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