Warrior Soccer nearly upsets Wasco
Related Photos
Battling for possession Warrior Cameron Gamble, #9, is blocked by a Wildcat in soccer action on Coy Burnett Field last week. In to assist is Chris Boyd, #11.
Warrior goalie Zach Satton dives to stop a shot in SSL soccer action against Taft. Satton has logged 140 saves and three shutouts.
Wasco came to Coy Burnett Field sporting an undefeated record in the SSL, and through the first half, it looked like Tehachapi was going to play the roll of spoiler to the top league team.
Tehachapi (8-12-4; 1-7 SSL) gave the visiting Tigers all they could handle through the first 40 minutes of the game, with Jose Barajas scoring the first goal of the game from five yards out with a shot that crept over the Wasco goalie's head.
"Our kids were playing great through the first half," said head coach Roger Rigfkogel. "When we play the good teams our kids have the ability to rise to the occasion."
However, up 1-0 at halftime, the Tigers made adjustments and scored three unanswered goals to thwart an upset on the Mountain.
"When they got their first goal in the second half, it deflated us and swung the momentum their way," added Rigfkogel. "We just couldn't respond after that."
Despite the loss, the Warriors are looking to play strong in the final week of the regular season with a playoff berth on the line.
"Our program has not been to the playoffs in over a decade. If we play strong, we can get there," Rigfkogel said. "That would be a big step in the right direction for us to be able to accomplish that."
Junior Varsity
The Braves secured a big upset this week by taking down SSL power Wasco at home last Friday, defeating the Tigers 2-1.
Matt Cardenas scored the winning goal on a free kick with just over four minutes left in the contest. Tehachapi was awarded a free kick when the Wasco keeper was penalized for a handball.
Earlier in the week, the Braves also tied Taft 3-3 on a penalty kick goal by Brian Castillo and two goals by Alex Benitez.
In previous games, Tehachapi (8-9-2; 3-4-1 SSL) had a goal by Tyler Todd and assist by Kevin Saldana in a loss to Arvin, and a goal and assist by Benitez, goal by Tyler Bakker and assist by Max Weisenseel in a loss to Shafter.
