BOYS SOCCER: Warriors score twice in second half to top Grizzlies

Contentment often has the power to slow down successful teams.

Usually, it takes some form of adversity to awaken the sleeping giant once again. For Western’s boys soccer team, a loss to Clark on Sept. 30 provided just that.

In the second game since the loss, Western topped host Spring Valley, 3-1, on Wednesday.

“It was a little close for comfort,” Warriors coach Robert Feller said. “Last time we played Spring Valley, it was 5-1. They just came off (a loss to) Clark 2-1, so we were definitely looking to match that or do better.”

After an own-goal midway through the second half gave Western a 2-1 lead, Sergio Anaya put the game away with a give-and-go score with eight minutes to play. Nathaniel Reyes assisted Anaya, who ran past a Grizzlies defender after a quick touch.

“He’s one of our captains,” Feller said. “That was great ball movement, a great run, a nice one-two. It was a nice give-and-go. Great finish. It was one of those things where we just had to bury them.”

Western struck first 15 minutes in, when Ricardo Gonzalez controlled a deflected ball and kicked it over the head of Spring Valley goalkeeper Stanislov Kopic to make it 1-0.

Spring Valley’s Tyson Perkins answered 10 minutes later after taking a free-kick from Dennis Tayou and putting it in the net to make it 1-1 at halftime.

After hitting the post and crossbar on two different occasions earlier in the game, the Warriors (9-4, 8-1 Sunset League) caught a break with the own-goal to take a 2-1 advantage. Ramon Perez sent the ball into the box, making it a tough clearance play for the Spring Valley defense.

“That was weird,” Feller said. “One of our players hit it and I think their defender kind of tried to flick it. It seemed like he got caught on the wrong side of it and kind of stuck his leg back out to hit it and just redirected it.”

Kopic made four saves for Spring Valley (6-5, 6-4).

The Clark loss was Western’s first league defeat since 2011. Since the start of the 2012 season, the Warriors have won consecutive league titles and hold a 30-1-6 league record. If all goes according to plan, the Warriors will meet Clark again on Oct. 24 to decide the league champion.

“We’re just as good as (Clark), if not better,” Feller said. “It always comes down to us and Clark at the end of the season … I told them that this Clark loss is our one (league) loss for the season. I want to steamroll through the rest of this division and the playoffs and not lose again.”

Las Vegas 2, Liberty 2 — At Liberty, the visiting Wildcats scored in the final minute to tie the game.

Axel Catalan and Steven Moreno each had a second-half goal for Las Vegas, which trailed 1-0 at the half.

Joey Hollimon scored both goals for Liberty.

Centennial 2, Desert Oasis 2 — At Desert Oasis, the Bulldogs and Diamondbacks played to a draw.

Centennial tied the game with eight minutes to play, and Desert Oasis had three shots in the final minute, but couldn’t convert.

Gianni Riga and Phillip Hopper each had a goal for the Bulldogs, who led 1-0 at the half.

Izeah Guiao had a goal and an assist, and teammate Josue Morales scored a goal for the Diamondbacks.

Arbor View 2, Cimarron-Memorial 2 — At Cimarron, the Aggies and the Spartans played to a tie.

James Drye had a goal and an assist, and Parker Boyd added a goal for Arbor View.

Chilo Sanchez had a goal and an assist, and Garrick Quackenbush also scored for Cimarron.

Clark 3, Sierra Vista 1 — At Sierra Vista, David Ginsburg scored twice to lead the Chargers by the Mountain Lions.

Eduardo Martinez had a goal and an assist for Clark.

Adam Felipe Dumo scored for Sierra Vista.

Chaparral 3, Boulder City 0 — At Boulder City, Ivan Jaquez scored twice to help the Cowboys top the Eagles.

Alex Robledo also scored for Chaparral.

Gerardo Skewes was in goal for the shutout.

Mojave 4, Cheyenne 1 — At Mojave, Antonio Perez had two goals and two assists to lead the Rattlers over the Desert Shields.

Francisco Alfaro and Cristopher Pulido also scored for Mojave.

Jefrey Ochoa scored for Cheyenne.

Valley 7, Silverado 1 — At Valley, Marco Gonzales scored three goals to lead the Vikings to victory over the Skyhawks.

Eric Sanchez, Alejandro Parra, Sebastian Salcido and Sergio Arreguin also scored for Valley.

Jaimie Ayala scored for Silverado.