Warden soccer eliminated from postseason play

ROYAL CITY - It was a classic battle between two of the top teams in the 1A SCAC East when Warden (12-4) and Royal (12-4) met on the pitch in a semifinal soccer match up Tuesday for the right to move on to the district championship round.

The Cougars had the momentum coming into the contest after shutting out Connell 2-0 in the quarterfinal round May 4, and the Knights were lying in wait after a first round bye.

But the layoff didn't seem to bother Royal as the host team came from behind in the waning minutes to tie the game, and then pulled out a 3-2 win in the penalty shootout to advance to the final round against the Highland Scots.

"It was a very good game," coach Ed Aguilar said. "But we let them escape twice in the second half. We had a couple opportunities to score in the second half as well, but missed our chances to put the game."

The match was scoreless through the first half of action. Warden got on the board in the 57th minute of play on a goal by Orlando Alba to go up 1-0. Royal responded with a goal by Jose Medina at the 67 minute mark to level things up 1-1. Fernando Landeros made it 2-1 Cougars three minutes later.

It looked as though Warden was moving on to the next round, but a goal by Cesar Bernal with time winding down, tied the game 2-2 to send it to overtime. Neither team was able to convert in the two five minute extra periods, so the match went to a shootout to decide the winner.

Both teams missed on their first opportunities. The Cougars attempt hit the Royal post and bounced off, and Osvaldo Alba blocked the Knights kick. Warden and Royal converted their second attempts as the tension mounted. But the Cougars missed on their next opportunity and the Knights made their final three to come away with the win.