Coast Union boys win 2 of 3 at Garces soccer tournament

Coast Union’s boys varsity soccer team won two out of three games this past weekend at the Garces Holiday Soccer Tournament in Bakersfield.

“They are playing as a team and being very responsible as players,” head coach Luis Plasencia said.

On Friday, Dec. 19, the Broncos lost to Liberty Madera 3-2. The following day, in the first of two games, Coast Union shut out Bishop Union 3-0. Jose Fernandez, Leo Martinez and Jorge Renteria each scored a goal in that match. 

The second game the Broncos played Saturday was a 1-0 victory over Firebaugh. Fidel Figueroa netted the lone goal for the Broncos. The next home match for Coast Union is set for Jan. 6, 2015, versus Tranquillity at 6 p.m. 

GIRLS

Coach Tamara Corbet’s varsity soccer team lost two and won one at the annual Garces Holiday Soccer Festival during the weekend of Dec. 20-21 in Bakersfield. The Lady Broncos played tough against Farmersville — which Corbet described as a “big, aggressive team” — but lost in overtime 4-3. 

Coast Union was down 2-0 in the Farmersville match but came back to lead 3-2 before eventually falling by one goal. Two of the Broncos’ top starters, Martha Gomez and Fabby Gonzalez were injured and had to be carried off the field, the coach said. Farmersville eventually won the tournament and beat each of its other opponents by four goals, Corbet reported.

Their second game, against Bakersfield West (a school of 2,500 students), was another loss for Coast Union, 3-0. But in the third game, against Mammoth Lakes, the Lady Broncos won 3-0. Cammie Tathum scored two goals, and Ani Corbet added one. Pauline Torrez and Diana Cisneros each had an assist. 

Because of the injuries to Gomez and Gonzalez, “These were our first losses, and some girls had to try positions they weren’t used to playing,” Corbet noted. “They kept their attitudes positive … and learned from this experience.” 

The next home match for the Lady Broncos will be Tuesday, Jan. 6, against Tranquillity, a 4 p.m. start. 

This story was originally published December 24, 2014 at 10:12 AM with the headline "Coast Union boys win 2 of 3 at Garces soccer tournament."