Gridley Boys Soccer
GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs boys’ soccer team beat the Corning Cardinals in the second round of the CIF Northern Section Division II playoff in a 2-1 victory last Thursday, February 16.

Senior striker Ricardo Ramos put Gridley on the scoreboard in the 20th minute from a little more than 20 yards away.

Bulldogs head coach Jesse Barajas told the Herald that they had a free kick and after it hit the defenders foot, Ramos was able to control it with a volley and punch it past the Corning goalie.

The Ramos goal led Gridley (11-5-2) into the half with a 1-0 lead. Corning was able to tie the game up in the second half.

Barajas expressed to the Herald the goal happened on what could have been a handball as both teams on the field stopped play initially thinking that was going to be the call but play continued on and Corning tied the game.

The Bulldogs scored in the final couple minutes of regulation off a Corning own goal and after that, Barajas exclaimed to the Herald he changed his formation strictly to defense to prevent a late score to push the game into extra time.

The win over the Cardinals matched Gridley up with Orland on Tuesday, who won the Butte View League outright. The Bulldogs tied and lost a match to Orland during the season.

Barajas told the Herald that the key to winning in the semifinals against Orland is playing mistake free.

He emphasized his team is a second half team and anything can happen.

Live Oak Girls Soccer
LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - The Live Oak Lions girls’ soccer team beat the Anderson Cubs 5-1 in the second round of the CIF Northern Section Division II playoffs last Thursday, February 16.

Live Oak won its sixth match out of its last seven and jumped out in the lead early against Anderson.

Lady Lions head coach Jose Acosta told the Herald that junior midfielder Mckayla Holman scored in the seventh minute of the game.

Acosta added that Anderson was quick to respond as they scored shortly after that and was able to tie up the game in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Holman was able to add another goal in the first half and sophomore striker Johanna Petrone added two goals in the first half to give Live Oak (15-4-2) a controlling 4-1 lead at the half.

Petrone and Holman are the leading scorers for the Lady Lions. Holman scored her third goal in the last 10 minutes of the game to receive a hat-trick.

Acosta expressed to the Herald that his team struggled with moving the ball throughout the game, but the times they were able to get some good movement, they were able to get goals scored.

He added the Anderson defensive approach towards his team was effective.

“At the end of the day, we were the ones who were able to put the ball in the back of the net with our opportunities,” Acosta said.

Acosta said that senior midfielder Alexia Sanchez and junior midfielder Melissa Gutierrez were able to step up and help the flow of game play against the Cubs.

Live Oak hosted Orland in the semifinals on Tuesday. The Lady Lions were supposed to face Orland in the first week of January, but that game was canceled due to the rain and it was never rescheduled.

Acosta told the Herald that he believed the two teams were evenly matched and it was going to be a good game.

Live Oak Boys Soccer

LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - The Live Oak boys’ soccer team stayed undefeated on the season as they shutout the Yreka Miners last Thursday, February 16 in the second round of the CIF Northern Section Division II soccer playoff.

Live Oak got on the scoreboard in the 25th minute when junior Kairo Machuca scored off a penalty kick to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Live Oak head coach Luis Cibrian told the Herald that the team played a great game.

Junior Esteban Alvarado added another goal in the first half to give the Lions a 2-0 lead at the half.

Senior Javier Medina scored the final two goals for Live Oak in the second half to continue the unbeaten streak for the Lions.

Live Oak hosted the University Prep Panthers from Redding on Tuesday.

Cibrian told the Herald that junior goalkeeper Rodrigo Caracheo is playing well and is excelling every day.