Boys Soccer

Good luck scoring on the West Ranch Wildcats. Clearly it isn’t easy. The Wildcats (7-1-2, 3-0) lost 1-0 at Highland on January 4, their only loss of the season, and allowed two goals last Friday at Saugus. In all other games, they’ve allowed just four, a 19-7 goal differential through 10 games.

Tuesday, they showed how tough they are defensively against rival Valencia, allowing only two scoring opportunities in the second half en route to a 1-0 win. It was West Ranch’s first league win over Valencia since the 2014-15 season.

After a quiet first half, things started to get a little heated after the break with three yellow cards and a lot of jawing back-and-forth between the sides.

In the 63rd minute, West Ranch senior captain Taylor Kozlov (starting at left back this season) provided the breakthrough for the home team on a relentless effort. It was the proverbial “third time’s a charm” for Kozlov, having his first shot deflected by a defender and the second blocked by the keeper, the captain stayed with the ball and slotted it past the Valencia keeper on his third attempt.

The Wildcats would hang on to the 1-0 lead for their third win in a row since that flukey loss at Highland, and have officially arrived as a major Foothill League contender.

Next up, the biggest game so far this season with the other Foothill League undefeated, the Hart Indians, coming to the west side on Friday for a showdown for first place. Kickoff is at 3:15.

Valencia (2-6-3, 0-2-1) will host Golden Valley Friday, searching for its first league win.

Hart: 1

Canyon: 0

The Indians picked up their own 1-0 league victory to move to 9-6-1 overall and 3-0 in league play. They’ll take a four-game winning streak into Friday’s matchup for first place at West Ranch.

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Golden Valley: 1

Saugus: 2

The Centurions bounced back from Friday’s surprising home loss to West Ranch with two first half goals to get back in the race for the Foothill League title.

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Guidance Charter: 8

Santa Clarita Christian: 0

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Palmdale Aerospace Academy: 9

Trinity: 0

Girls Soccer

Canyon: 0

Hart: 3

Hart cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Cowboys, and the Indians have yet to concede in league play (9 goals for, 0 against). It was Canyon’s first league loss, but at 2-1 sit just a game behind Hart for first place.

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Saugus: 3

Golden Valley: 1

An entertaining first half (Saugus led 2-1) and a first league win for the Centurions. With five points through three games, the unbeaten Centurions (1-0-2) have a date with Hart that looms large a week from Tuesday (1/23).

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West Ranch: 1

Valencia: 0

West Ranch made it the rare boys and girls soccer sweep over big brother Valencia.

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Santa Clarita Christian: 7

Trinity: 1

The Cardinals dominated their rivals to move to 3-1 in the Heritage League. They’ll host Louisville in a non-league match today at 3:00.