Boys' soccer: Cathedral City's season ends in shootout loss to Wilson

A crowd of more than 400 was buzzing at Cathedral City High School on Tuesday, with the school’s boys’ soccer team on the field, feeling they were part of something special.

This was supposed to be the year the Lions brought home a CIF Southern Section title.

Instead, tears were shed, and that feisty home crowd was eventually left in stunned silence as the Lions’ season ended in a shootout loss to Wilson High of Hacienda Heights after a scoreless tie in regulation in the Division 6 quarterfinals.

“This was a group that understood what we were trying to do,” longtime Cathedral City coach Josiah Chavez said. “These guys were great teammates to each other, on and off the field. It’s a special group.”

Perhaps what made this loss more gut-wrenching than most is that the Lions (14-6-1) were at home, with the crowd and, in one instance, an inch from reaching the semifinals.

In the final minutes of regulation, a shot by Cathedral City striker Nefthali Lopez sailed over the outstretched hands of Wilson goalie Jacob Cristo before bouncing off the crossbar, denying what would have been the game-winning goal.

The two teams instead took the scoreless game into overtime, then into a shootout, where Cristo stopped two of the Lions’ four shot attempts to help seal a 4-2 shootout win.

Afterward, Wilson head coach Javier Dorado told Chavez that he would not have been surprised had the Lions won the game and, eventually, a CIF title.

While it may have merely been a comforting gesture, it sounded genuine — and accurate. Cathedral City was riding a seven-game win streak entering Tuesday, and the Lions had outscored their first two postseason opponents, 5-2.

Lions' player of the game

Goalkeeper Aldo Carlos: Though he managed to stop just one of four penalty shots, no Cathedral City player had a better game than the Lions’ goalkeeper.

Carlos stopped 13 shots in the game, including a pair that left those on the Cathedral City sideline bewildered. Both were in the final 20 minutes of the game and were without a doubt the reason the game even went to overtime.

“The funny thing is that he’s only a sophomore,” Chavez said. “He’s excellent in between the sicks and he definitely saved us at times today.”

Looking ahead

The good thing for Chavez and the Lions is that much of the roster returns, including Lopez, their all-league striker. Most of the roster is made up of juniors that will be seniors next season, with perhaps a chip on their shoulders thanks to how this season ended.

“It is a group that is going to continue on,” Chavez said. “I know that for a fact. There’s no question. But I’m gut-wrenched for our seniors.”

CIF-SS Playoff update

TUESDAY'S RESULTS

Boys' basketball

D4A: Northview 72, Rancho Mirage 53

Boys' soccer

D5: Shadow Hills 3, Leuzinger 2

D5: Esperanza 0, Rancho Mirage 0 (Esperanza wins in PKs)

D6: Wilson (Hacienda Heights) 0, Cathedral City 0 (Wilson wins in PKs)

D7: Desert Hot Springs 3, Buckley 2

WEDNESDAY'S GAMES

Girls' water polo

D6: La Quinta at El Modena, 5 p.m.

D6: Anaheim at Indio, 5 p.m.

Girls' soccer

D3: Palm Desert at Warren (Downey), 5 p.m.

Girls' basketball

D2A: Shadow Hills at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 7 p.m.

THURSDAY'S GAME

Boys' soccer

D7: Desert Hot Springs at Cobalt

FRIDAY'S GAME

Boys' soccer

D5: Upland at Shadow Hills

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Cathedral City's season ends in shootout loss in CIF-SS quarterfinals