|
Brawley Union High's Carlos Cervantes advances down the field in a game against Holtville High Thursday in Holtville. (FERNANDO ACOSTA JR. PHOTO / February 14, 2013) |
HOLTVILLE — With a 3-1 win against Holtville High in boys’ soccer, the Brawley Union High clinched its first Imperial Valley League title in nine years here Thursday.
Under first-year head coach Daniel Hernandez, the Wildcats were poised to take sole possession.
“If it feels good to close it out the right way, by having sole possession of the title, it feels a whole lot better than having to share it,” Hernandez said.
Brawley had previously secured at least a share of the league title with a 2-2 tie against Southwest High on Tuesday.
All the Wildcats needed was a tie Thursday to secure sole possession of the title and it came down to the last game of the season. Had the Wildcats lost Thursday, they would have shared the crown with Central Union High.
“You play to win the game and we weren’t comfortable with that 1-1 tie at halftime and we were just hoping that we would be able to finish the second half a whole lot stronger,” Hernandez said.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a goal by Miguel Soto. The Vikings tied it five minutes later with a goal by Omar Alderete. The first half ended 1-1.
The second half is where the Wildcats took over, with a goal by Brawley’s Raul Rubio in the 10th minute and another in the 15th minute by Jose Duran.
“It feels like, there’s really no words to describe such a feeling, it’s something every kid dreams about, to have that simple pride to say our team is No. 1,” said Brawley senior and the team’s leading scorer Carlos Cervantes, 18.
The league title secures the Wildcats a spot in the CIF-San Diego Section Division III playoffs and a home game in the first round, if they are not pitted against another league champion with a higher seed.
The Wildcats end the regular season 8-1-3 in league and 12-6-4 overall. They will find out who their opponent is at a seeding meeting Saturday in San Diego.
“As of right now, the team is very confident that we can play well in the playoffs,” said Brawley senior captain Daniel Bernal, 18.
The Vikings had little to lose coming into Thursday’s game. For them, preparing for the Division IV playoffs was their main concern.
“We’re looking good for CIF,” said Holtville head coach Juan Arroyo. “We went to a tournament earlier in the season and beat The Preuss School, which is a very tough team, that hopefully will give us a home game in the first round.”
The Vikings are down to only 11 players but are confident they can be competitive.
“We expect to play well in the playoffs,” Arroyo said.
The Desert Cup
Holtville and Imperial high’s kicked off what is hoped will become a tradition Tuesday with the inaugural Desert Cup.
Both used to play in the Desert Mountain League before joining the IVL which prompted both schools to start their own tradition.
“Last year, I talked with the Imperial coach (Velino Herrera) and though it was a good idea,” Arroyo said.
On Tuesday, the Vikings beat the Tigers in the inaugural Desert Cup, 2-1, with goals by Antonio Reyes and Alderete.
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
