Tiger booters beat Casa, tie Windsor

Local boys soccer teams continued Sonoma County League action
last week, with both the Lions and Tigers playing a pair of
games.
Tigers rising to the top of SCL ranks 
Analy demonstrated why it’s ranked among the best in the North
Bay again this season, surviving a pair of tough games against Casa
Grande and Windsor.
The Tigers (9-1-2, 2-0-1) were tested in both outings, as they
slipped past visiting Casa Grande, 3-2, and played defending
champion Windsor to a scoreless tie.
The Sept. 16 game against the Gauchos featured four penalty
kicks, as the Tigers took a 2-1 lead at the half. Analy managed
another insurance goal after intermission to emerge with a 3-2
victory. Leading scorer Taylor Varnadore continued his assault on
the opposition with another pair of goals, while Anthony Zepponi
tallied the other goal for Analy.  
The showdown with Windsor at Wilson Ranch lived up to all
advanced billing on Friday, as the teams dug in for a tremendous
defensive battle. The Tigers played six in the back and held off
every Jaguar challenge, including three shots that bounced off the
Analy post. Tiger goalie Paul Gresset, in the mist of a brilliant
game, refused to buckle under the strong Windsor attack.
The scoreless game moved to overtime, with neither team able to
break the deadlock as the contest fittingly ended in a 0-0
tie.   
“It was a big game for both teams,” said Tiger coach Peter
Meechan, citing the outstanding play of defenders Sergio Hernandez,
Augustine Reyes and Eli Munger.  “Our defense and goalkeeper played
well.  Windsor is a good team and we rode our luck a bit, but
overall I was very proud of the effort.”
The Tigers will host Leadership High School of Richmond this
Saturday, Sept. 26 (7 p.m.) in a non-league clash, and entertain
Sonoma next Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Karlson Field (5/7 p.m.).
Lions drop a pair to league foes 
Things didn’t go as scripted for the El Molino contingent,
dropping a pair of SCL outings to Petaluma, 2-0, and Casa Grande,
3-0.
The Lions (2-4-2, 1-2) gave host Petaluma all they could handle
in the Sept. 16 meeting at Durst Field, as the Trojans tallied an
early first-half goal, and found the net again late in the second
period to emerge with the victory.
El Mo was hit hard by the flu bug prior to Friday’s meeting with
the visiting Gauchos, leaving the team without three of its
starting backs. Casa took full advantage, scoring three unanswered
goals en route to the 3-0 win. 
The Lions will resume league play this Friday, Sept. 25 against
visiting Healdsburg. Varsity and JV game times are 4 and 5:30
p.m.