Thursday March 28th, 2024 9:44PM

Boys soccer roundup: GHS, Johnson, Bluff, take wins; West Hall, East Hall fall

By AccessWDUN Staff

GAINESVILLE — Gainesville used a strong defensive effort to knock Class 3A No. 4 West Hall 2-0 on Tuesday at City Park Stadium.

It was the second straight win for the Red Elephants (4-3) who began the season ranked but have been battling injuries in the early part of the season. The loss snapped the Spartans' (3-2) three-match win streak.

The back four of Gainesville -- Ronald Penado, David Menchaca, Pablo Tamayo and Endy Alarcon -- along with David Esquivel and Sinuhe Zaragoza, who shared time in goal, kept West Hall, which had scored 17 goals during the win streak, at bay.

The Red Elephants got goals from Aram Lara on a header from a corner kicked by Noe Vasquez and from Noe Vasquez on a penalty kick.

Offense is the key for the Spartans. West Hall is 3-0 when scoring a goal and 0-2 when it doesn't so far in 2021.

Gainesville next will open Region 6-7A play against Denmark on Friday at City Park.

West Hall is off until next Tuesday traveling to Cherokee Bluff to open its Region 7-3A schedule.


JOHNSON 3,
GAC 1

The Class 5A ninth-ranked Knights scored two goals in the final 15 minutes to pull out a win over the Class 3A No. 10 Spartans in Norcross.

Jorge Sandoval gave Johnson a 1-0 lead in the first half and the Knights took that into the intermission. It stayed that way until late.

GAC tied the game at 1 with just over 15 minutes left in the match but Ramon Aguilar gave Johnson a 2-1 lead and Sandoval sealed it in the waning minutes to provide the margin of victory.

Three is the key number so far for Johnson. The Knights (2-2-1) are 2-0 when scoring three or more goals and are 0-2-1 when scoring less than three goals.

Johnson will be back in action on Friday opening its Region 8-5A schedule against Jackson County at the Dungeon.


CHEROKEE BLUFF 1,
EAST HALL 0

The Bears handed the Class 3A eighth-ranked Vikings their first loss of the season at Bears Stadium on Tuesday.

Cherokee Bluff (2-4) got an early goal when Harrison Carter knocked in a rebound after a free-kick from Garrett Wayne was saved and made it stand up.

East Hall (3--1-1) could not crack a solid effort from the Bears. An all-senior group of keeper Jesus Rivera and defenders Josue Gamez, Geo Chavez, Christian Guzman, Ty Ellis, Kevin Velasquez, and Armando Torres did not budge as the Vikings tried to get the equalizer.

The Bears next will open their Region 7-3A schedule at home on Friday against Gilmer.

The Vikings will play host to Stephens County on Thursday in a non-region match at East Hall Stadium.

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