I-A BOYS SOCCER: Ginsburg, Chargers eliminate Roadrunners

In the brief history of Nevada’s Division I-A, only one school has hoisted the boys soccer state championship trophy.

On Monday, Clark’s boys made sure that will change this season.

David Ginsburg had a goal and an assist to lift the Chargers to a 2-1 win over two-time defending state champion Tech in a Division I-A Southern Region quarterfinal at Faith Lutheran.

The Chargers (15-1-2), who entered Monday having allowed just two goals in their previous seven matches, did a masterful job of possessing the ball and controlling the tempo, limiting Tech to two shots on goal in the first half.

“Tech is a great, great team, and every year they have a system,” Clark coach Juan Chavez said. “They’re always very offensive, and we were just stronger, I think, touching the ball. That was one of the big differences, controlling the ball. We controlled most of the game.”

Clark’s scoring chances were far from plentiful in the first half, but the Chargers used their speed to take the lead for good.

Alan Zuniga’s long pass from beyond midfield started a two-on-two break for teammates Ginsburg and Oscar Mata in the middle of the field.

Ginsburg collected the long ball and sent a beautiful touch pass to Mata, who tipped the ball past Tech goalkeeper Tyler Harvey in the game’s 24th minute.

“One of the problems we have had this year is just getting that first goal,” Chavez said. “That first goal gives us confidence, and if it doesn’t come, we panic. It was great; great confidence for us. When we score first, we’re always ahead.”

Tech (15-7-2) had three good scoring chances in the first 25 minutes of the second half, but Clark goalkeeper Ramon Ramirez turned away a deflected 25-yard boot from Francisco Garcia seven minutes into the half and made a leaping stop of Joel Velazquez’s header from in close 25 minutes into the half.

The Roadrunners had a golden opportunity to score in the 23rd minute of the second half after a quick pass caught Ramirez slightly out of place, but a deflected shot hit a Tech forward in the hand.

Ginsburg gave the Chargers breathing room with a wild 35-yarder that tucked into the right upper corner of the goal with six minutes to play.

Tech’s pressure finally resulted in a goal with two minutes left when Garcia crashed the net to head in a centering pass from Eduardo Sanchez.

Clark will try to knock out both of last year’s state finalists as it meets Sunrise League champion Sunrise Mountain (15-1) in a region semifinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Heritage Park.

“Sunrise is one of those teams that everyone has been looking at,” Chavez said. “We haven’t gotten much attention this year, and we’ve just thought of ourselves as an underdog. Hopefully we can beat them.”

Sunrise Mountain 2, Spring Valley 0 — Jorge Molina and Jose Arreola each scored a first-half goal, and the Miners’ defense took care of the rest, blanking the Grizzlies (10-7-1).

Carlos Cruz made six saves to earn the shutout for Sunrise Mountain.

Chaparral 4, Mojave 1 — Jose Morales scored twice, including once a 28-yard free kick just three minutes into the match, as the Cowboys (18-6-1) topped the Rattlers (10-5-3).

Carlos Hernandez and Omar Miranda each added a goal for Chaparral, which led 2-0 before the midway point of the first half. The Cowboys will meet Sunset League champion Western (17-4-1) in a region semifinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Heritage Park.

Antonio Perez converted a penalty kick in the first half for Mojave, which played shorthanded for the final 23 minutes after receiving a red card.

Western 1, Desert Pines 0 — Sergio Anaya headed home Ricardo Gonzalez’s corner kick in the 24th minute to allow the Warriors to edge the Jaguars (8-7).

Oscar Casas-Arias made five saves to earn the shutout for Western.