For the second straight match, 80 minutes was not enough time to settle the score at Joe Debeley Stadium. And for the consecutive playoff contest, the added minutes did not faze the Turlock High School boys soccer team, as more late heroics earned the Bulldogs a spot in this weekend’s section championship game.
In the 88th minute of Thursday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinal against No. 8 Oak Ridge, the No. 4 Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie on a corner kick connection between seniors Sebastian Chahal and Keegan Pires. Chahal delivered the ball right in front of the net, and Pires lifted himself high above Oak Ridge defenders to header the ball past the goalkeeper, setting off an emotional sidelines celebration.
The 1-0 victory sets the Bulldogs (14-3-4) up with a date with No. 2 Davis (13-4-3) in Saturday’s title match, slated for 7 p.m. from Cosumnes River College in Elk Grove. The Blue Devils punched their ticket to the championship with a 1-0 win over No. 3 Franklin of Elk Grove on Thursday.
“Honestly, I just made my run, and Sebastian’s ball was perfect,” Pires said. “I put my head there and it went in, and it was the best time of my life, right there. It was just so crazy to have so many people mobbing me, hitting me during the celebration… It’s an amazing feeling to be going to the finals.”
Saturday will mark Turlock’s first appearance in the championship game since 2019, when they fell to Jesuit (Carmichael) by a 3-0 score. As for Pires, it will be his second straight trip, as he helped crosstown Pitman High win the Division II banner a year ago, the first in program history.
“It’s great to have such amazing teammates,” Pires said. “Sebastian’s assist was amazing. It was literally perfect. And that’s what it is, winning as a team.”
Chahal’s kick from the corner was an impromptu moment. After the ball rolled out of bounds off Oak Ridge, Chahal was closest. Despite not being the primary placekicker for the Bulldogs, Chahal naturally picked it up, placed it on the ground and began backing up as he signaled for his teammates to get ready to receive.
“I just stepped up, wanted to take it and we got the result,” Chahal said. “I knew I could do good. I knew that Keegan could header that in from in front, and he did. I felt a good connection with the ball and everything worked out from there.”
Despite not having the traditional corner set up, Turlock head coach Jose Alonso Garcia said he was never worried.
“Today was one of those days where Sebastian felt comfortable,” Garcia said. “He went and took it, and that was the outcome. We give our players the opportunity to be leaders out there, and that's what we love about this group. Every one of them, they make the correct decisions at the right moments.”
Following the score, the Bulldog defense held strong, keeping the ball near midfield and stifling the desperate Trojans over the final 10 minutes of the extra period.
The Trojans threatened most in the second half, getting off six shots, including three on goal. One of those on-target attempts came after a unique sequence in the 60th minute.
Awarded a kick attempt from about 20 yards out from the home sideline, Oak Ridge’s Gavin Ingraham delivered a curving ball into the back of the net for what most people thought was a tiebreaking goal. It was enthusiastically called off by the referee, though, as it was deemed the ball was kicked prior to the blowing of the whistle to signal the start of play. A second attempt was taken, and was blocked by a wall of Turlock defenders, but again, the whistle was not blown, and a yellow card was issued. On the third try, the shot deflected off the Bulldog wall, but right towards the goal. Goalkeeper Kevin Ramirez was there to make the diving stop.
Ramirez, who is nursing a shoulder injury, made four total saves. It came two days after the senior captain played hero in penalty kicks in the quarterfinal round, where he made three of four saves against River City to secure a 1-1 (2-1) win.
“When we went to overtime, the only thing I was thinking was that we had to win this,” Ramirez said. “All our focus was on scoring. I thought all our positions were good. Being in these intense situations, it's just about having confidence in yourself, my teammates and our coaches. It’s about making sure we're all together and playing united. I think that’s what has gotten us through these games, the family, the unity and the confidence we have in each other.”
In the quarterfinal against No. 12 River City, the two teams played to a 1-1 tie through the first 100 minutes amid wet and cold conditions at Joe Debely Stadium. The lone goal in regulation for this year’s Central California Athletic League champions came on one of 13 shots by the always-threatening Turlock offense. Converting successful PK attempts was Pires and fellow senior Manuel Guerrero.
The Bulldogs opened their playoff run with a 2-0 win over No. 13 Edison of Stockton on Saturday. Netting both goals was Pires, receiving assists from senior Mario Chavez and freshman Sergio Alvarez-Suarez.
“Going to the finals again is amazing,” Pires said. “I want to wear (championship) rings for both teams in this city.”
DIVISION II
As for Pitman High, the season — as well as its defense of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship — came to an end Thursday in Rocklin.
The No. 3 Pride were unable to generate any offense against the second-seeded Thunder, losing the semifinal match by a 1-0 score.
Pitman’s season ends at 14-6-1.
The Pride advanced to Thursday’s semifinal with a pair of 2-1 victories over the first two rounds of this year’s tournament.
On Tuesday night, the Pride received goals from freshman Christian Flores and senior Giancarlo Nakamura to down No. 6 Whitney. In Pitman’s playoff opener on Saturday, also on their home turf, seniors Noah Shamoon and Alex Vasquez delivered goals to best No. 14 Merced.
DIVISION V
In nearby Jackson, a similar story unfolded for Hilmar High, competing in the Division V bracket.
Facing Argonaut, the No. 4 Yellowjackets also could not find the back of the net, losing 4-0 to top-seeded Galt.
The season ends at 17-3-3 for this year’s undefeated Trans-Valley League champions.
The Yellowjackets had been cruising through the first two rounds of the tournament, outsourcing its two postseason opponents by a combined score of 11-1.
Tuesday afternoon at the familiar confines of Joe Mattos Field, the Yellowjackets surrendered their first goal of the postseason against TVL rival Sonora, seeded No. 12, in the quarterfinal match. It was not before building themselves a comfortable lead that eventually led to a 7-1 win to advance to the semifinal round for the second straight season. Senior Miguel Gonzalez led the way with a hat trick. Sophomore standout Zabdiel Vasquez added a pair of scores, while senior Alex Rosales and junior Blake Vitorino also found the back of the net.
In Hilmar’s opening round match against No. 13 Riverbank, Vitorino himself recorded a hat trick, while Gonzalez was again a goal-scorer. It also marked the sixth shutout of the season for senior keeper Salvador Rodriguez.
