Stallions drop close match at home
Benny Munoz/The Madera Tribune
Madera South’s Adrian Ruiz keeps his eyes on the ball to keep control during Tuesday’s loss to the Reedley Pirates.
Despite a strong effort from the entire team, the Madera South Stallions boys soccer team was unable to claw back against Reedley in 1-0 defeat at home.
“Definitely a game we would want back but will learn from our mistakes,” head coach Enrique Garcia said on Twitter after the match.
Although the Stallions are still in the midst of their non-conference season, the expectations are high for Madera South.
Madera South ran into a surging Reedley team who find themselves at 2-1-1 after the win at Madera South. But as Garcia and his boys have faced in the past, the non-conference schedule is a means to test the boys and prepare them for the black and blue County/Metro Athletic Conference.
The Stallions trailed for the majority of the game after a first-half goal ended up being the game-wining goal. Madera South stayed compact and played aggressively defensively, keeping the game close throughout.
But, the Stallions were missing that spark up front as the chances were few and far between.
Madera South’s Axel Rodriguez has been a constant threat so far this season with two goals, but was kept quiet against the Pirates. Ricardo Rangel has assisted in the scoring department, as well, with a team-high two goals.
Add in the youth of freshman Jonathon Molina, who has two assists on the season, as well as Christopher Zavala, who has an assist, the Stallions have the right balance of youth and experience to make another run in the CMAC.
Despite Tuesday’s loss to the Pirates, the Stallions have five non-conference games to sharpen their tools before opening the 2021-22 CMAC season.
