Boys soccer ties No. 1 team

Ramona High School’s boys soccer team played a home match Jan. 13 against Mission Hills, which entered the week as the county’s top-ranked boys soccer team, and obtained a 1-1 draw against the Grizzlies.

“It was a good draw for us,” said coach Michael Jordan.

The tie and a 4-0 victory Jan. 15 at Sage Creek gave Ramona a 6-4-2 record entering Valley League competition. If weather permits, the Bulldogs have a league home game Friday against Oceanside.

The Bulldog boys and girls also participated in a varsity-staff game Jan. 11 in Ramona High School’s gymnasium. A dozen faculty or coaching staff members earned a 10-9 victory over the varsity players, and the game raised approximately $150 for the boys and girls programs.

“It was a great turnout,” Jordan said.

The varsity girls played in the first and third quarters and the varsity boys competed during the second and fourth periods. The boys were unable to score the equalizing goal at the end.

“Scott Poortinga, who is our announcer, was just lights out in goal. He was amazing,” Jordan said. “The voice of the Bulldogs came up big for us in goal.”

The two goals in the 1-1 tie with Mission Hills were scored within a minute of each other. After the Grizzlies scored, the next possession ended with Koscanny Luna passing to Eddy Saucedo, who placed the ball into the net for the Ramona goal.

“It’s a nice testament to our boys. They didn’t let down,” Jordan said.

The game was scoreless after those first-half goals.

“Our defense played fantastic. Tony came up with some great saves,” Jordan said.

Ramona goalkeeper Tony Solis was credited with 12 saves against Mission Hills.

“Some of them were obviously bigger than others,” Jordan said.

Mission Hills ended the week ranked second in the CIF San Diego Section.

“A draw against the No. 2 team in the county is pretty neat,” Jordan said.

Sage Creek is a third-year school with no seniors. Saucedo scored all four of the Bulldogs’ goals within a 10-minute span during the first half and had the first three of those within six minutes of each other.

Due to injuries only 17 of the 21 boys on Ramona’s roster were able to play against the Bobcats, but Jordan used as many substitutes as possible. Solis played the entire game and made five saves in his second shutout of the season.

Ramona’s starting defenders were outside backs Jesus “Momo” Gutierrez and Nick Espinoza and center backs Chaco Castro and Manny Velasco.

“I wanted to try something different and move Carson (Charbonneau) up to center midfield,” Jordan said.

During the second half Mateo Michel and Abraham Ceballos were also contributing defenders to the shutout.