SALINAS VALLEY — South Monterey County boys and girls soccer teams are entering the final two weeks of play in the Pacific Coast Athletic League for the 2025-26 season.
Currently, the Gonzales Spartan girls are holding onto first place in the Cypress Division, while the Soledad Aztec boys are in first place in the Mission Division.
Last week the Lady Spartans lost for the first time in the Cypress Division, falling by a 2-1 score to the Palma Chieftains in Salinas. Palma held a 1-0 halftime lead but Izabella Mandujano tied the game at the beginning of the second half for Gonzales. Palma scored the winning goal in the final seconds of the game.
“It was our first loss in the division,” said Gonzales head coach Jose Tejeda. “We got beat on the scoreboard but not in heart. Now back to training and back to work. We win or we learn.”
Gonzales is 5-1 in the division and 6-7 overall.
The Greenfield girls are 2-1-3 in the Cypress Division at third place and 6-7 overall.
The Lady Bruins played just one game last week, downing the host North Salinas Vikings by a 1-0 score. Rubi Dominguez scored the winning goal for Greenfield with an assist by Aideliz Moreno. Goalie Kimberly Zavala was credited with eight saves in the contest.
The King City Mustangs are in sixth place in the Cypress Division at 1-2-2 and a 2-7-3 overall mark. In last week’s game with host North Salinas, the Lady Mustangs lost 2-1 to the Vikings.
The Soledad girls are in seventh place in the Gabilan Division at 0-5-2 and 6-7-2 overall. Last week the Lady Aztecs played the Hollister Haybalers to a 2-2 tie. Nichole Gonzalez scored the two Soledad goals, and Michelle Rodriguez earned an assist on one of the goals.
In remaining girls soccer games this week: Gonzales plays at North Salinas on Wednesday and will host King City on Friday; Greenfield is at Palma on Wednesday night and will host the St. Francis Sharks on Thursday; King City hosted St. Francis on Wednesday; and Soledad will play at Pajaro Valley in Watsonville on Thursday afternoon.
BOYS SOCCER
Last Wednesday at home, the Soledad Aztecs defeated the North County Condors 3-2. Jesus Ortiz, Jason Rico and Christian Romero scored the goals for the Aztec boys. Rico assisted on two goals and Ortiz assisted on one goal.
On Friday, the Aztecs played Monte Vista Christian, a tough host in a game that went back-and-forth. Ortiz scored the winning goal on a last-minute free-kick goal, ending the game at 3-2.
Rico and freshman Julian Valdez added goals, and Rico and Ortiz were credited with assists.
With the wins, Soledad improved to 7-1 in the Cypress Division and are 11-2-3 overall.
“This week we have just one game in Watsonville against Ceiba on Saturday,” said Soledad head coach Genaro Espinoza. “We are looking forward to keep the momentum going versus the team that beat us in our last defeat.”
Gonzales played just one game last week, beating the Pajaro Valley Grizzlies, 3-1.
Jorge Uribe scored all three goals for the Spartan boys. Earning assists were Emmanuel Valdez, Samuel Ochoa and Manuel Arriola. Goalie Luis Cabada had six saves.
The Spartans are in second place in the Mission Division at 5-1-1 and are 10-2-3 overall.
King City is in third place in the Mission Division with a 4-3-1 record and a 7-8-1 overall mark.
The Mustang boys had a .500 record last week, beating the Robert Louis Stevenson Pirates, 3-2, and losing 7-2 to the Watsonville Wildcatz.
Rafael Merino scored two goals in the Stevenson game, while Angel Moreno scored the winning goal off an assist by Lalo Acosta for the Mustangs. Merino scored both goals in the Watsonville contest.
Greenfield (3-3-2 in Gabilan, 5-5-4 overall) played a pair of games last week, losing 2-1 in Salinas against North Salinas, and bouncing back for a 2-1 win at home against the Alisal Trojans.
“In the North Salinas game, Anthony Zuniga had our only score of the game,” said Bruins coach Eliseo Ayala. “On Thursday, we played Alisal at home, where we took the win. Alex Sanchez scored both goals and Joaquin Velasquez and Anthony Zuniga assisted on the goals. Daniel Altamirano (goalie) had five saves for that game.”
In boys soccer games to play this week: Gonzales hosts Watsonville on Thursday; King City plays at Seaside on Thursday; Soledad is at Ceiba on Thursday; and Greenfield will host Palma on Wednesday and travel to Hollister on Friday.
