Spartans survive and advance in rainy play-in thriller
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - It was win or go home in El Centro and the Central Spartans made sure their season wasn’t ending Tuesday night.
On a brisk, rainy afternoon at Cal Jones Field, Central hosted Mira Mesa in a Division 2 play-in matchup with the final playoff spot on the line. The Marauders made the trip from San Diego looking to sneak into the bracket, but the Spartans defended their home pitch with grit and composure.
Central wasted little time getting on the board. In the 13th minute of the first half, Valentina Pacheco delivered the breakthrough, finding the back of the net to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. Pacheco nearly added another later in the half, but Mira Mesa goalkeeper Lyla Moll came up with a big stop to keep it a one-goal game.
Goalkeeping was a major storyline all afternoon. Central freshman Paula Lopez stepped up with several key saves, coming off her line to shut down scoring chances and keep her defense organized.
Despite the wet conditions, both teams battled defensively. Mira Mesa’s Alana Mortensen made a strong play during a Central rush to prevent another goal, and the match remained a tight 1-0 contest heading into halftime.
After the game, head coach Francisco Lopez Jr. said keeping his team grounded in the high-pressure moment wasn’t easy.
“It’s difficult to tell them because they’re pumped up, they’re ready to go,” Lopez Jr. said. “And especially with the weather, the fans here — I know that they’re a little bit nervous — but I think the confidence that they have in themselves as a team is actually showing.”
He liked the opportunities his squad created, adding, “We’re creating quite a few opportunities now. We just got to capitalize.”
The Spartans’ back line made sure that early goal held up. Central did not allow a single goal in 90 minutes of play, turning in a phenomenal defensive effort to secure the shutout victory and clinch a berth in the San Diego Section Division 2 playoffs.
Lopez Jr. believes his team has developed the mindset to compete in the postseason.
“Through the middle of our league season, that’s when we started stepping it up,” he said. “We took a loss 3-0, and then after that we had a good talk, good communication. And from there we’ve just been going up from there.”
No matter how the postseason unfolds, Lopez Jr. made it clear how much this group means to him.
“Super proud. It’s been a tough season,” he said. “We lost Coach Sal at the beginning of the season, so it’s been a tough mental and emotional season. But we’ve been able to use his strength to overcome it. And that’s what’s carrying us right now.”
With the 1-0 win, Central advances to face No. 1 seed Del Norte on Wednesday — and thanks to resilience, confidence, and heart, the Spartans’ season lives on.
