Gonzalez, Longhorns top Galena

RENO -- The first time Jorge Gonzalez got the ball past Galena goalkeeper Alan Solano, the Legacy forward breathed a sigh of relief. The second time, he knew his team was going to its second consecutive Class 4A boys soccer state championship game.

Gonzalez scored the game's first goal and the backbreaking third goal to lead the defending champion Longhorns to a 4-0 win over Galena in a state semifinal Friday at Damonte Ranch.

The Longhorns (18-1-2) will face Hug in the state final at noon today.

Gonzalez's first shot in the 36th minute hit the post and bounced off Solano into the net to give the Longhorns a 1-0 lead after a sluggish first half.

"It's actually a big relief knowing that you're up after a tough first half," Gonzalez said. "It hit the post and the goalie dove a little bit late and it hit his back and went in."

Legacy coach Jose Gomez said the Longhorns were struggling until Gonzalez's goal gave them some life.

"Very groggy the first half, I wasn't used to seeing that, but we held our ground, we didn't give up any goals and got the first one," Gomez said. "Once you get the first one, it helps you relax a little bit."

Legacy's defense kept the ball away from goalkeeper Ramon Carvajal, whose only tough save came when he punched a shot over the goal in the final minute.

Antonio Velazquez eluded two defenders left of the net and sent a low shot past Solano for a 2-0 lead in the 61st minute. Nine minutes later, Gonzalez beat Solano again for a 3-0 lead.

"At that play, I thought we had a spot in the state final," Gonzalez said. "It was just a relief for me, my team and my coach. My team has put in the work to be one of the best ones in the state."

And after not recognizing what he saw from his team in the first 40 minutes, Gomez said his team looked like champions in the second 40.

"We played our game, which is possession and control, and you saw how we finished off that game," he said. "It's soccer, beautiful soccer."

■ Hug 3, Eldorado 2 -- The first trip to the state tournament in 17 years ended in heartbreak for the Sundevils.

Hug's Armando Villanueva Ramos scored on a direct free kick from 22 yards out in the seventh minute of overtime to give the Hawks a win over Eldorado (18-3-1) in the other semifinal.

"Just because this was a goal they set at the beginning of the season, it's a tough way to go out," Eldorado coach Gerald Pentsil said. "They knew it had been awhile and they were trying to carry the banner for Eldorado, and they did, even though we didn't finish like we wanted to finish."

Eldorado's Edgar Duran converted a penalty kick in the 72nd minute that put the Sundevils ahead 2-1, but Hug tied the game in the 77th minute. A shot by Rodrigo Magallanes bounced off a defender and right back to Magallanes, who buried the rebound.

Eldorado missed several chances, including one header that sailed wide and another that barely went over the crossbar, while Hug goalie Francisco Macias made two difficult saves in overtime.

"We felt we had the chances, we just didn't covert," Pentsil said. "We were getting what we were looking for, but the final touch wasn't there."

GIRLS

Sophomore Courtney Lindsay scored on a penalty kick with 17 minutes left in the second half to lift Pahrump Valley to a 2-1 win over Carson in a Class 4A state semifinal at Damonte Ranch.

The Trojans (14-1-1), who became the first Southern team to win a semifinal match against a Northern Region Class 4A team, will face Bishop Manogue for the state title at 10 a.m. today. Manogue was a 2-1 winner over Douglas.

"We're already breaking new ground," Pahrump coach Pamela Larmouth said. "We're excited, but we just need to settle down and play our game."

Lindsay, a midfielder, took the penalty kick after the Senators were whistled for a handball inside the box.

Pahrump took a 1-0 lead in the first five minutes of the match when the Senators surrendered an own goal.

Carson got the equalizer late in the first half and had a handful of other chances, but Trojans sophomore goalkeeper Kiaya Nauck held the Senators at bay with eight saves.

"She played the best she has played all year," said Larmouth, adding that four of Nauck's saves were "impossible."