Royal Knights top Granger, 4-0, for 4-0 streak in soccer

ROYAL CITY — Royal downed Granger 4-0 last Saturday to complete a 4-0 non-league soccer slate in just more than a week to start the new season.

“We won today, but we are starting to show heavy legs,” coach Jens Jensen said Saturday. This was our fourth match in eight days.”

Jensen was hoping to have the legs back by Monday. The Knights were scheduled to play their first SCAC East contest against very tough Warden at Warden, too late for Sun Tribune press time.

The Knights were dominant against Granger. They scored twice in the first half and twice in the second.

“The boys had many more chances to score,” Jensen said.

For the game, Royal took 15 shots, eight on goal. Granger was not allowed a shot by the Royal defense.

Scoring first, in the 11th minute was Fernando Ortiz. Michael Rojas added a goal in the 32nd minute. Antonio Barragan scored in the 57th minute off an assist from Fernando Ortiz and Angel Farias got the final goal in the 62nd minute, assisted by Rojas.

The previous match was a 3-2 victory over Mabton. Royal had a 3-0 lead most of the match, then made things interesting by bringing in a nearly all-JV lineup late in the game.

The Vikings didn't have a good team across the first 11, but they had four good individuals and a good keeper. They rallied as the Royal starters rested.

“They proved their quality by running easily through our young boys with speed and strength. They scored two goals nearly back to back,” Jensen said.

The Knights played poorly in the first half, finding it difficult to play with the setting sun burning in their eyes, but in addition to the sun, they generally looked a bit lethargic.

“The second half was much improved, and we got our first goal from one of our freshman, Antonio Barragan,” Jensen said.

Barragan took a ball with the outside of the foot and beat the keeper at the far post with the curling shot.

The second goal was from Alex Contreras, who attacked from a tight angle on the right side and beat the keeper at the far post with a curling effort with the inside of the right foot.

The third goal was deftly redirected into the net by Michael Rojas from a low driven ball into traffic in front of the net.

The prior match was a 3-0 shutout of Seattle Christian at Kent. Royal didn't bother to keep stats. It was raining, and there was no cover for the stats girls.

Oscar Castro scored. Fernando Ortiz scored from a double assist by Alex Contreras and Mike Rojas. And Mike Rojas scored.

“We went over to that side of the state to get some experience making that trip and playing in the rain with west side referees,” Jensen said.

The first win in the streak was 1-0 over Highland. The lone goal of the game was scored by Abraham Medina on two assists, from Rojas to Ortiz to Medina. It came off a corner kick after which the ball was headed back and forth across the mouth of the goal before Medina was able to make his shot.