Boys soccer playoffs: Pacifica quiets old foe Channel Islands in Division 2 opener

Andrew Navarro expected a playoff atmosphere at Channel Islands High on Thursday night.

Which is why the Pacifica High boys soccer coach was so pleased with the two early goals Michael Sauceda delivered for the Tritons in their 3-0 win in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.

“We quieted their crowd down early, which is very important,” Navarro said. “That’s what I was a little worried about. They feed off their crowd. We didn’t let them get hyped up.”

Sauceda scored twice in the opening 15 minutes and freshman Bryant Martinez headed in a third in the 48th minute as Pacifica (16-6-1) advanced to the second round for the fourth straight season.

The Tritons will host Santa Ana Valley in Saturday’s second round.

“We were never able to respond,” Channel Islands coach Salvador Orozco Jr. said. “Pacifica did a great job of controlling the game. They’re that good that they can do that to anybody. I’m sure they’re going to go far.”

The two Oxnard Union High School District schools spent a generation competing against each other in the grueling Pacific View League. Channel Islands moved to the Citrus Coast League this season, joining rival Hueneme.

The familiarity led to an electric playoff atmosphere.

“I was feeling butterflies,” Orozco said. “That’s one of those games you live to play. That’s why you become a soccer player, for moments like that.”

More:Girls soccer playoffs roundup: Channel Islands earns historic first playoff win

The Raiders (12-5-4) were unable to recover from Sauceda’s early goals and were reduced to 10 men after a red card in the 53rd minute.

“He’s fast and very determined to get to goal,” Orozco said of Sauceda.

DIVISION 1

Fullerton-Sunny Hills 1, Oak Park 0 (OT): Goalkeeper Ryan Chu saved a penalty kick in overtime to extend the Eagles' upset bid against the unbeaten No. 2 seed to 88 grueling minutes.

“It was amazing,” Oak Park coach Brandon Heidt said. “Our boys continued to battle. We had opportunities. We took them 80 minutes and they couldn’t break us down.”

But Sunny Hills (20-0-3), ranked No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches’ West region poll, headed in a free kick two minutes from the end of the first overtime period for the golden goal.

“The boys jumped up two divisions,” Heidt said. “The heart and determination was unbelievable. If that’s a top team, we were right there with them.”

Heidt was disappointed the Coastal Canyon League champion Eagles didn’t host a first-round match after going 16-1. Oak Park was ranked in the top half of the division by several ratings indices, including MaxPreps.

“I want to see the math,” Heidt said. “We should have been seeded higher. I think our boys deserved a home game, where they haven’t lost in two years. They earned it.”

DIVISION 2

Agoura 3, Downey 1: Jesse Davis had a goal and an assist, Keon Saleh and Evan Sanchez scored goals and Justin Soto had an assist as the Chargers advanced to the second round for third straight season.

“They were so good, but we were better today,” Agoura coach Jaime Alvarado said. “The boys were disciplined today defensively. It got them the result.”

Agoura (10-5-3), which has outscored its last three opponents 10-1, will play at top-seeded San Bernardino-Cajon on Saturday.

Agoura took the lead in the 38th minute when Davis’ cross found Saleh for a shot from 18 yards. Four minutes later, Davis made it 2-0 by heading in a rebound.

After Downey pulled within 2-1, Soto’s pressing caused a turnover. The senior striker set up Sanchez for the finish.

Loyola 2, Moorpark 0: The Musketeers ended their season at 9-8-3.

DIVISION 3

Anaheim-Canyon 4, Newbury Park 0: The Panthers (7-5-4) fell behind early on the road, but were in the game until conceding three late goals.

DIVISION 4

Oxnard 2, Fountain Valley 1: Miguel Cabrera and Christian Carbajal scored first-half goals and Alexander Franco had an assist as the Yellowjackets earned their first playoff win in three years.

“We played the way we like to play,” Oxnard coach Chris Conte said. “We just didn’t finish, so we made it tough.”

Oxnard (17-3-8) visits Palmdale Aerospace Academy for a second-round match Saturday.

Glendale 2, Westlake 1: Marco Hernandez’s goal, set up by Jaden Nachimzon, pulled the host Warriors even in the second half.

“We fought like hell and dominated the second half,” Westlake coach Aerick Brown said. “Clawed one back.”

But Glendale retook the lead and Westlake’s season ended at 12-9-5.

Harvard-Westlake 2, Buena 1: Angel Lopez’s late free kick goal allowed the Bulldogs (13-12-3) to push the division’s unbeaten top seed. It was just the fifth goal Harvard-Westlake (21-0-1) has allowed this season.

Littlerock 2, Camarillo 0: After a scoreless first half, Camarillo (6-11-4) conceded twice early in the second half on the road.

DIVISION 5

Santa Paula 1, Cerritos-Valley Christian 0: Ezequiel Mendez scrambled in rebound of Christian Saucedo’s cross in the 72nd minute as the Cardinals advanced to the second round for the first time in three years.

“It was a back-and-forth game,” Santa Paula coach Manny Elizarraraz. “They were physical. We struggled to get our rhythm in the first 20 minutes. Their keeper kept coming up big.”

Santa Paula (13-5-4) will visit Oro Grande-Riverside Prep in Saturday’s second round.

Diamond Ranch 3, Foothill Tech 1: Despite a goal by Matheus Gamble, the host Tri-Valley League champion was eliminated at Ventura College. Foothill Tech’s season ends at 9-7-1.

Ontario-Colony 3, Grace Brethren 1: Despite an equalizer by Jeremy Larson late in the first half, the host Frontier League champion was eliminated at Royal High. Larson finished the season with 20 goals in 12 games for the Lancers (8-3-1).

DIVISION 7

Nordhoff 9, United Christian Academy 2: The Rangers are enjoying their first trip to the postseason since winning the 2014 Division 7 title.

Ozzy Jimenez, Pablo Rodriguez, Juan Lopez, Gio Jimenez, Uriel Covarubia and Adrian Vega scored goals as Nordhoff won its second straight playoff game in Rancho Cucamonga.

Nordhoff (11-6-2) will visit Whittier Christian in Saturday’s second round.

Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Boys soccer: Pacifica quiets old foe Channel Islands in Div. 2 opener