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SUNSET BOYS SOCCER: Aggies stun Bishop Gorman

Arbor View’s boys soccer team didn’t claim a title of any sort on Monday.

But the Aggies still had plenty of reason to celebrate.

Alfredo Carrera’s goal about 10 minutes into the second overtime gave Arbor View a 3-2 win over Bishop Gorman in the Sunset Region quarterfinals at Heritage Park.

“It’s unbelievable. Words can’t explain how good they feel right now,” Arbor View coach Robert Starbird said. “I know it’s just a first-round win, but it’s huge. The legacy and everything with Gorman … we know they’re a good team, a well-coached team, and it’s nice to beat them.”

Starbird had goalkeeper Sergio Gonzalez take a free kick just on the Arbor View half of the field. Gonzalez lofted a beautiful ball deep into the Gorman penalty box. Gorman goalkeeper Joshua Holland was able to deflect the ball, but it went to Carrera who knocked home the winner.

“We like to press high and take our chances with (Gonzalez) back there,” Starbird said. “I can’t even think right now. I’m just excited.”

It was Carrera’s second goal of the game. His first came early in the second half and give the Aggies (6-13-2) a 2-0 advantage. James Drye scored on a free kick in the first half for Arbor View.

But Gorman (8-3-3) answered Carrera’s first goal quickly, with Jeffrey Wright and Matt Fike scoring in quick succession to tie the game.

“We kind of let down a little bit, but we didn’t quit, and that’s the MO for our team this season,” Starbird said. “We don’t every quit, we play a full game no matter what.”

Carrera used his speed to continue to put pressure on the Gorman defense after the Gaels tied the game, but was unable to score in regulation or the first overtime where he had a shot go just wide and a header on a follow stopped by Holland.

“That’s kind of our game is putting pressure on the other team with him and James up top, and we kind of take it from there and take our chances in the back,” Starbird said.

Arbor View plays Cimarron-Memorial (14-3-2) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Heritage.

“This is a big win for this group,” Starbird said. “They’ve put a lot of work in this year. We knew we were just as good as anybody; we think we can play with anybody. We just have the confidence, and we went out and performed today.”

Cimarron-Memorial 1, Legacy 0 — Freshman Chilo Sanchez scored in the game’s 68th minute and the Spartans held off the Longhorns.

“I was just worried. It was 0-0, and I just turned and had the chance and I shot it,” Sanchez said. “When I saw that in the back of the net, I was just so proud of my team and everyone. The first thing I wanted to do was go hug my coach.”

Goalkeeper Richard Crews did his best to make Sanchez’s goal hold up. He made a pair of spectacular saves on consecutive point-blank shots with about seven minutes to play. Two minutes later, Crews was able to turn away a free kick from just outside the penalty box.

“He saved us a lot,” Sanchez said of Crews. “Without Richard, it would probably be 1-1 right now and the game would still be going.”

Shadow Ridge 3, Centennial 1 — Dominic Damato had a goal and two assists to lead the Mustangs past the Bulldogs.

Damato’s goal 10 minutes into the second half broke a 1-1 tie.

Matthew Camacho added an insurance goal five minutes later for Shadow Ridge (10-5-1), which also got a first-half goal from Alex Pacheco.

The Mustangs play Palo Verde (13-5-2) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Gianni Riga scored in the first half for Centennial (3-10-4).

Palo Verde 5, Bonanza 0 — Nolan Sherwood and Presten Manthey each had a goal and two assists as the Panthers eliminated the Bengals (5-9-1).

Jordan Mashal, Jaden Ketelsen and Teagan Jarvis each added a goal for Palo Verde.

Mashal’s header into the upper left-hand corner gave the Panthers a 1-0 halftime lead.

They extended it to 2-0 in the game’s 54th minute on a nifty goal by Sherwood, who kept his run alive, eluding several Bonanza defenders before burying his shot from 10 yards out.

It was all Palo Verde from there.

Nishesh Yadav was in goal to get the shutout.

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