Warrior boys avenge league-opening soccer loss to Cougars

Valley League boys soccer play began Jan. 14, and that included a 3-0 Escondido High School victory over Fallbrook High School in Escondido, but Fallbrook was victorious in the Jan. 30 rematch on Fallbrook's field.

"We had a different approach," said Fallbrook coach Jorge Rojas. "The mindset that they had to respond and perform against one of the best teams in the county is what made it more successful the next time around."

The victory against Escondido gave the Warriors a 2-2-2 league record along with an overall mark of 5-3-9. The Cougars' loss was their first in league play this season and their second of the season and gave Escondido an overall record of 14-2-4. Escondido and San Pasqual tied each other during the first round of league play while winning their other four games apiece, so the loss at Fallbrook also removed Escondido from the Cougars' share of first place in the league standings.

"I was very happy with their approach and mindset," Rojas said. "I have a team that learns from experience."

The Warriors swept the Cougars in their 2017-18 and 2018-19 league games, and the Jan. 14 contest constituted Escondido's first win over Fallbrook since Feb. 2, 2017. "That match was obviously heartbreaking. There was just a lot of underperformance and the boys really didn't show well," Rojas said. "They're one of the best teams we've played the whole season and the approach that we had in the first game wasn't adequate."

Part of the problem was an injury which removed inside back Ricardo Acosta for the remainder of the game. "I don't have any alternating center backs, so we had to be flexible and try to adjust during the game," Rojas said.

"We had made the tactical adjustments, and it was just really difficult for the boys that night," Rojas said. "The result was pretty evident. We haven't had a loss with a result of that difference all season."

Fallbrook's only previous loss during the season was by a 1-0 margin Jan. 3 at El Camino.

Acosta saw limited action in Fallbrook's Jan. 16 game at Ramona, so Rojas brought up Ivan Franco from the freshman team to be a center back. "That's his natural position," Rojas said.

Fallbrook's junior varsity center back was ill Jan. 16, which led to the use of Franco. Franco's brother is Fallbrook goalkeeper Cristian Franco, who had three saves in the Warriors' 3-0 victory over Ramona.

"They demonstrated really well in the field. Ramona tried their best to compete against us, and we had the opportunity to try some new things," Rojas said of the win.

Joseph Bell was Fallbrook's starting outside left back for the shutout, Ivan Franco was the starting inside left back, Charlie Paez was the starting inside right back, and Michael Lopez was the starting outside right back. "Our defense definitely held their own in the back," Rojas said.

Fallbrook held a 2-0 halftime lead against the Bulldogs. Scoring opened when Ever Morales passed to sophomore Alex Romero, who scored his first varsity goal. Acosta was on the field when Andres Martinez took a corner kick, which Acosta converted into the Warriors' second goal.

Romero scored his second goal of the game in the second half on a breakaway counterattack. "Alex is quite the dribbler, extremely technical player, very fast," Rojas said.

San Pasqual's 5-2 victory Jan. 30 at Valley Center gave the Golden Eagles a 5-0-1 league record and a 12-4-3 overall mark. One of those victories was in Fallbrook on Jan. 21. The only goal in that 1-0 game was scored late in the first half. "They caught us a little off guard," Rojas said.

"Overall the boys played exceptionally well," Rojas said. "We had a couple of opportunities, but we just couldn't find the net."

Rojas noted that the most important aspect of success is competing on the field, and his players met that standard in the loss to the Golden Eagles. "They sparred and went toe to toe against one of the best teams in the county," Rojas said. "I was very pleased with the way the boys directed themselves."

Mission Vista plays home games at the Vista Sports Park, and the Jan. 24 match there against Fallbrook ended in a 2-2 tie. The Warriors held a 2-1 halftime lead before the Timberwolves took a penalty kick with seven minutes remaining and placed the ball into the net. Morales scored the Warriors' first goal on a free kick. Acosta took a corner kick from Martinez and turned that pass into Fallbrook's second score.

Fallbrook's Jan. 28 home game against Valley Center was a scoreless tie. "We've been experiencing some absences," Rojas said. "I had players out sick, more than usual, with the flu."

The players' illnesses were augmented by an out-of-town family emergency which deprived Fallbrook of Ramon Espinoza for the Valley Center game. The absences of Acosta and Ivan Franco created a starting defensive lineup of Joseph Bell at outside left back, Angel Gonzalez at inside left back, Paez at inside right back, and Lopez at outside right back.

Gonzalez is normally a defensive midfielder. "Angel was flexible and he decided to fill that void," Rojas said. "He did well in the back. It made us change a couple of things in the midfield."

Cristian Franco made six saves against the Jaguars. "The defense saw a lot of action," Rojas said.

"We've just been rolling with the punches," Rojas said. "I'm happy with the response."

Espinoza was available for the Jan. 30 game against Escondido, but a family emergency deprived the Warriors of Martinez. Fallbrook took a 1-0 lead when Gonzalez obtained possession following a clear attempt and subsequently placed the ball past the Cougars' goalkeeper.

The 1-0 halftime lead became a 2-0 advantage when Bryan Rodriguez scored with an assist from Romero. The Cougars narrowed the lead to 2-1. Midway in the second half the ball hit the hand of a Fallbrook player in the penalty box, which resulted in an Escondido penalty kick, and the shot tied the score at 2-2.

Approximately ten minutes remained in the game when Espinoza set the ball into the box where Romero was able to place it into the net. The 3-2 score held up for a Warriors' triumph.

"A great response," Rojas said. "They compete and they achieve great results against county-ranked teams."