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Hilmar boys soccer advances to Section title game
Hilmar yellowjackets

Hilmar High is back in the Sac-Joaquin Section Championship game after the No. 4 Yellowjacket boys soccer team upset No. 1 Summerville, 4-2, in Thursday’s semifinal.

“It was an exciting game,” said Hilmar head coach Louie Bettencourt. “The last 15 minutes, it was pouring and 40 degree weather, snow on the outside of the field, two piles of snow outside of the turf area, never seen anything like that. We came out and played a fantastic half then in the second half we didn’t push too hard and things changed a bit, but the thing with our team is once they start rolling and making those passes and runs, it makes us dangerous, but they all have to be on pace.”

Hilmar went up 1-0 after just 17 seconds. Bryan Millan notched his first of three after Marc Matos got the assist.

About 15 minutes later, Millan took the ball on the back end and assisted Jose Guerrero for the second score of the game.

Guerrero assisted Millan for the team’s third goal as they went up 3-0 at the half.

In the second half, Summerville began to press as they made it 3-2 with about 20 minutes left in the game.

Millan completed the hat-trick and put the game out of reach just a few minutes later.

“I’ve brought it up more than once — they have to play two halves,” said Bettencourt. “So it is important in the next game to play the full 80 minutes. We played them last year and they beat us, but we are more experienced and everyone is working and that is what it is going to take. We need to all step up, and we are taking steps and these are the right steps in that direction and one big thing I try to tell them to be satisfied that they are out there and leave 100 percent out there and be focused and finish games off.”

Hilmar will square off against No. 2 Encina Prep from Cosumnes Oaks at 4 p.m. Saturday.