Here’s what you should know about finals of section’s high school boys soccer
If McLane High sophomore forward Guillermo ‘Memo’ Martinez continues his scoring prowess on Thursday, the Highlanders could very well become the first section soccer champions this season.
That is because second-seeded McLane (19-6-3) moved up the CIF Central Section Division III title match against Cesar Chavez High of Delano (21-3-1) because of weather concerns. Game time is 6 p.m.
McLane blitzed visiting Selma High on Wednesday night, 5-1, with three of those goals courtesy of Martinez.
For the Highlanders, earning a spot in the title match is not new. McLane reached the Division IV championship match last year before falling to Fowler, 2-2 (5-4 on penalty kicks).
McLane High head coach Erik Rodriguez hopes for a better result this time.
“We’ve been here before. We really wanted this game to get back (to the finals),” said Rodriguez. “We knew it was going to be a tough semifinal against Selma.”
McLane scored a 4-1 win over Selma in last year’s Division IV semifinals.
Martinez made the going easier. He scored in the 28th minute of play, then watched teammate Marcos Samaniego, a junior, convert off a corner kick two minutes later to help McLane out to a 2-0 halftime lead.
Martinez added a pair of second-half goals after senior teammate Gilbert Paneco scored 15 minutes into the half.
With each score, Martinez ran to the sidelines and made a half turn in the air to celebrate.
“He’s an excellent player, but he was struggling a little bit when he got to us,” said Rodriguez of his sophomore scorer. “He didn’t really play and mesh in our system.”
But that was nothing a couple of months with the program couldn’t iron out.
“He really started to pick it up,” said Rodriguez. “Scoring was our Achilles heel; we couldn’t score too much. But, Martinez and other sophomores have taken that role. They’re maturing for us now.”
Hosting the Division III final is important, said Rodriguez.
“We feed off of our fans. They do a great job for us,” he said. “And, our turf is a little different than playing on grass. It’s a huge, huge advantage for us when we get to play here.”
The record backs him. McLane is 13-1-1 at home this season.
Chavez High comes in with an impressive record, and is ranked No. 8 by Max Preps in the section. McLane is ranked No. 12.
The visiting team is led in scoring by Jose Sandoval (20 goals) and Angel Gutierrez (19 goals). Eight of its wins have been by shutouts.
Other finals of interest
Division I top seed Clovis North (23-0-1), ranked third in California by Max Preps, will host Ridgeview of Bakersfield (19-1-3, and seeded second) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Clovis North’s only blemish is a 1-1 against Jesuit (Sacramento) in December.
The Broncos are led by senior forward Bryan Lopez (25 goals, 23 assists). His twin brother, Brandon, has 10 assists.
Ridgeview is led by senior forward Joshua Bryant (19 goals). The team has nine shutout wins.
Chavez High is not the only school from Delano in a section final. Delano High and Robert F. Kennedy High face each other at 6 p.m. Thursday for the Division V championship. Fifth-seeded Kennedy (10-11-2) will host the Tigers (13-12-2).
Other finals
Division II: Santa Maria (18-7-4) will host Pioneer Valley (14-3-7) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Division IV: Top-seeded Riverdale (20-4-4) will be at home against Lompoc (10-9-4) at 6 p.m. Friday.
Division VI: Top-seeded Bakersfield Christian (11-13-3) will host No. 2-seeded Yosemite (13-8-3) at 6 p.m. Friday
