NCS soccer roundup: Santa Rosa boys advance with 2-0 win

Santa Rosa High's boys turned in a sterling defensive performance and scored goals in each half to roll into the North Coast Section Division 1 soccer semifinals by upending visiting Heritage 2-0 on Saturday.

“Our defense has done very well the last six games,” Santa Rosa coach Antonio Garcia said. “They gave up two goals in one of those matches, but have just played exceptionally well otherwise.”

Top-seeded Santa Rosa improved to 19-2-1. Heritage, from Brentwood, finished 8-2 as Bay Valley League co-champion. The Patriots finish 16-4-3 overall.

Santa Rosa will host fifth-seeded Monte Vista on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the semifinal round. Monte Vista defeated fourth-seeded Dublin 3-2 Saturday. The Mustangs, from the East Bay League, have a 17-5-3 record.

Santa Rosa was better than good in blanking Heritage.

Goalkeeper Jairo Villalobos pitched the shutout. Santa Rosa's defense allowed Heritage just six shots on goal.

“Jairo did make a couple of really difficult saves,” Garcia said.

Defenders Edwin Martinez and Ryan Lorenz sparked Santa Rosa's defensive effort.

“The whole defense played really, really well,” Garcia said. “Edwin and Ryan did a particularly good job back there tonight.”

Santa Rosa scored in the 15th minute of the game. Edwin Gomez sent a crossing pass into the 18-yard box where Seamus Young toe-poked a shot into the top right corner of the goal to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

The Panthers added an insurance goal when Luca Mazzanti scored on an acrobatic header in the 18-yard box.

“That was a pretty incredible goal,” Garcia said. “He just dove for the header and scored.”

Garcia likes where his team is entering the semifinal game.

“Every game presents a different challenge. We played well tonight,” he said. “We're excited to be in the final four. We'll have to go out on Wednesday and hope we continue to play well.”

CONCORD 1, RANCHO COTATE 1

At Rohnert Park, No. 10 seed Concord upset the second-seeded host Cougars on penalty kicks. The match was tied and went to penalty kicks, where the Minutemen won it.

Concord is now 13-7-3. Rancho Cotate ends its season 15-6-2.

Rancho scored in the first half, but Concord tied it in the second to set up the decisive penalty kicks.