The Indians executed a quick restart on a free kick in the 31st minute and Darwin Herrera knocked it home, stunning the West Ranch Wildcats who enjoyed the run-of-play for the majority of the match.

“I know we’ve been practicing quick plays at practice, I saw one of our teammates running for the ball and I was just holding my run the whole time until [he] got the cross, and I put it away,” said KHTS Man of the match Darwin Herrera, whose goal lifted the Indians into sole possession of first place.

It was a rainy afternoon at West Ranch high school, where Hart and West Ranch took the field as 3-0 Foothill League teams, knowing one could leave with a big leg up on the other with six matches remaining in the season.

And the difference in the game came down to one great scoring chance for each side in the first half.

With the Hart goalkeeper beaten and the left side of the goal gaping, West Ranch hit a header off a corner kick that rolled (rather slowly) inches wide of the goal.

Minutes later, senior midfielder Darwin Herrera put the Indians up front 1-0, and that would be all the scoring for the day.

The second half had everything that could be expected in a high-stakes league match: physical play on both sides (including a West Ranch striker’s alleged broken hand), a West Ranch parent kicked out for dissent toward the referee, and an intense final ten minutes with the Wildcats pressing for a tying goal.

Ultimately, Hart’s counter-attacking style proved to be too tough for West Ranch to crack, and the Indians move to 4-0.

“For us it was just keeping the score–keeping the lead, and no matter what we were going to get the ‘dub’,” Herrera added confidently after the match.

West Ranch will look to rebound Tuesday at 0-4 Golden Valley, while Hart hosts Saugus in the KHTS Match of the Day. Kickoff for both is at 3:15.

Valencia: 2

Golden Valley: 0

The Vikings picked up a much-needed win, their first league win of the season thanks to two second half goals against GV. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, have lost eight straight league games dating back to last season.

It won’t get any easier for Golden Valley with a frustrated West Ranch team coming to town Tuesday.

–

Saugus: 4

Canyon: 0

Four different Centurions got on the score sheet to cruise to victory over Canyon. At 2-1-1, Saugus is right in the thick of the race for the league title, with a big match at Hart coming up on Tuesday.

Canyon is -8 in goal differential against every league team not named Golden Valley. The Cowboys face Valencia Tuesday night, kickoff at 6:30.

KHTS Sports is your place for Santa Clarita Sports Report and the winter sports season. Find all the latest news and updates on your hometown schools here as they compete in the Foothill League, Heritage League, Western State Conference and GSAC. If you have any news and notes about our teams and players to share please send them to jp@hometownstation.com, like us on facebook.com/khtssports and follow us @KHTSSports on Twitter.