High Desert Soccer: Victor Valley's title hopes still alive after rallying to beat Adelanto
Victor Valley needed a win against Adelanto on Tuesday night to keep the team’s Desert Sky League boys soccer title hopes alive.
With the Jackrabbits trailing 2-1 in the 78th minute, that hope was starting to get desperate.
Victor Valley never panicked.
First it was Dante Celis, who tied the game after finishing a ground-cross from Dominic Castillo in the box. In stoppage time, four minutes later, it was Miguel Arredondo’s turn to play hero.
“Great players happen to be in the right spot when the time matters,” Victor Valley head coach Julio Hernandez said. “Stars find their way every time. Miguel was the difference today.”
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Arredondo launched a frozen rope from 30 yards out that found the back right corner of the net, giving Victor Valley the 3-2 lead and eventual win.
“I took it with my right (foot) and I had space because the defender didn't come at me,” Arredondo said. “I just hit it praying it would go in.”
Arredondo attempted another long shot just minutes before his eventual game-winner that was blocked. The senior knew that the second time was the charm.
“The second one was going in. It had to,” Arredondo said.
Victor Valley jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second minute via a header goal by Paul Rodriguez.
But Adelanto managed to secure a 2-1 lead before halftime with a penalty-kick goal in the 34th minute, followed by a long shot goal by Christian Aguilar four minutes later.
Down a goal at halftime, Hernandez remained focused on securing the win and three points in the standings.
“The mindset was always for us to get the three points. So we tied it and pushed numbers back a little bit but we were still trying to go to goal,” Hernandez said. “We never parked the bus at any time and our mindset was always to go for the three points. We weren't going to be satisfied with a tie.”
What it means
With the win, Victor Valley clinched at least second place in the DSL standings with a 4-1-2 record.
Victor Valley can still capture the league title with a victory Thursday in the season finale over Silverado, coupled with a Granite Hills (4-0-3) loss or tie against Barstow.
As for the Saints, they end the season in third place with a 3-1-4 record, and await the draw of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs. Adelanto qualifies for an at-large bid, as the five-team DSL is only guaranteed two playoff berths.
They said it
Arredondo on what he was thinking as Victor Valley trailed 2-1 late in the game: “At first there was a doubt until the second half with about 20 minutes left. I was looking at the clock and told myself I was just going to fight for this more.”
Hernandez on Victor Valley’s upcoming game against Silverado: “We’re obviously rooting for Barstow to win but none of that will happen if we don’t execute first. We won tonight, job done, now we have to focus on Silverado because if we tie and Barstow upsets Granite it wouldn't guarantee us a league title. So we're just taking care of our situation and being patient with what happens with Barstow and Granite.”
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Prep Soccer: Victor Valley scores in stoppage time to beat Adelanto
