Prep boys’ soccer: Liberty Ranch earns school’s first section championship
On Tuesday night, after a long drive to Turlock High School for all parties, a long boys’ soccer game ensued. It took 100 minutes, including 20 of double overtime, but Liberty Ranch made all the work worthwhile with a 4-2 penalty kick win for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV boys’ soccer championship.
It was a scoreless affair with the defenses of both teams on the front foot and the attacks rarely getting shots.
Hawks coach Garrett Arechiga, coaching in his first postseason, delivered Liberty Ranch their first-ever title.
Arechiga praised his players after the long season: “We have probably 17 kids that could start. Unfortunately, we have 11 positions. So our biggest task this year was finding a set rotation and then finding those role players that are typically starters elsewhere to buy in to being role players. And I would say getting the kids to buy in was our biggest thing. Now, we’re fortunate to where any player can start in any position.”
Arechiga also said his team has been practicing penalties for when the time came.
It came in handy last night as Emmanuel Gomez, Julian Rodriguez, Ismael Chavez, and team captain Julio Pargas converted four of their team’s kicks.
The Hawks missed the third penalty kick with a save by the Dixon goalkeeper. But Hawks goalie Sergio Duarte came up big with two huge saves.
After Julio Pargas scored the winning kick, the six-man coaching staff and the 26 players flooded the field, celebrating with hugs and high-fives.
It’s hard to find a coach with the passion of Garrett Arechiga. Constantly encouraging his players throughout the game while shouting directions, Arechiga evidently loves this team.
He was thrilled with the victory.
“We were able to stay in this game because we kept our heads. Coach always teaches us to stay calm even when things aren’t going our way,” Pargas said.
The Dixon Rams dominated throughout the game, but as Pargas said, the Hawks were able to stay calm.
Liberty Ranch took just a single loss this season in winning the Sierra Valley Conference. After a perfect postseason, the Hawks claimed their first Sac-Joaquin Section title.
The neutral site was far from ideal for most everyone driving in from the Sacramento area.
It was 45 degrees at kickoff with sprinkles of rain and strong gusts of wind.
The Dixon team drove almost two hours to get there and Liberty Ranch trekked 90 minutes. As a result, there were few fans.
Dixon coach Alan Espinoza did however praise his school for their support as they are not equipped with a team bus.
“Our community was crucial in our success,” Espinoza started, “Many parents volunteered their cars and the school rented some vans. We wouldn’t be here without their support.”
At the start of the playoffs, it seemed unlikely Dixon would be here.
The Rams were runners-up in their conference and were seeded number eight. Nonetheless, they knocked off No. 1 Livingston, No. 5 Woodland, and nearly took down No. 2 Liberty Ranch.
The Rams’ seniors were mentors for the underclassmen, Espinoza said, and this journey will be remembered by this team despite the disappointing end result.
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 2:48 AM.