CHELSEA – The Classical High boys soccer team’s season came to an excruciating end Monday with a 1-0, double-overtime loss to host-Chelsea in the opening round of the Div. 2 North state tournament.View Photo GalleryAfter 96 minutes of tug of war like play, the fourth-seeded Red Devils prevailed on a beautiful shot from Edgar Rivera-Vallares with two minutes remaining in the second extra session. “It took an absolutely perfect shot to beat us,” said Rams coach Rob Upton of the game-winner, which Rivera-Vallares picked out of mid-air for a rocket just inside the right post.
“Our guys fought to the very end. I couldn’t be more proud of the way they worked and stuck together all season.”
Classical finished the regular season at 10-7-1, good for the No.13 seed.
For Chelsea (15-3-1), the victory exacts a measure of revenge after a first round, 1-0 defeat to the same Rams team in 2013.
“I’m sure last season’s result was on their minds,” said Upton.
“Chelsea is a great team. They kind of took it to us in the two overtime periods and in the end they got us back.”
Rivera-Vallares nearly ended things early in the first extra session, but his redirection attempt missed to the left post.
A back and forth opening 40 minutes saw the hosts nearly grab a quick lead when Carlos Cartegena broke in alone before an offsides call negated his chance to the far post.
Rams senior goalkeeper Strati Saranteas made four saves in the half (9 total) while his offense mustered five chances against Angel Molina-Figueroa, none better than a high-bid from senior Jonathan Benavides at 3:20.
Another golden opportunity, this time off the head of Hector Garcia-Andino, couldn’t net the Red Devils a lead as the chance missed the wide-open net.
Several attempts from the Rams over a span of 13 minutes also failed to break the ice including two from Abitalib Girdia, who sent a missile over the cross bar with 24:55 remaining.
The visitors finished the period with an 8-3 advantage in scoring chances.
“I thought most of the game was evenly played,” said Upton, who will lose 11 seniors to graduation including captains Andres Dominovic, Karegeya Nasibu and Jesus Viveros.
“This is going to hurt for a while but these guys have been a big part of turning this program into a consistently successful product.”