Golden Valley soccer can’t hold lead in draw with Merced

Golden Valley High School has proven it can score against the Central California Conference’s top teams.

Holding a lead against them is a different story.

Cougars coach Lance Eber said he experienced a few moments of déjà vu from his squad’s league opener as Golden Valley twice took a lead against crosstown rival Merced on Tuesday afternoon just to see the Bears equalize.

The teams settled for a 2-2 draw to close the opening leg of CCC play.

The tie left the Cougars with just two points against the three schools they’re fighting for a playoff spot. They’re currently on the outside looking in, despite just one loss this season. Merced tops the standings with 11 points. Turlock is just behind with 10, Pitman has nine and Golden Valley has eight.

“It’s definitely a major concern,” Eber said. “I felt today like we controlled the possession and created the best scoring chances, but we just couldn’t hold the lead. It was like watching our first game against Pitman all over again. That’s four leads we’ve given up in those two games. We have to be better than that.

“The good news is Turlock and Pitman also tied, so we didn’t lose any ground.”

The Cervantes sisters led the way offensively for the Cougars (8-1-4, 2-1-2 CCC). Brittany Cervantes opened the scoring on a feed from sister Brandy, firing home from the top of the 18-yard box to make it 1-0.

Merced (3-9-2, 3-0-2) leveled the score before halftime thanks to a long throw-in from Carris Burges. The sophomore striker found an open Jetta Saeteurn, who headed it home to make it 1-1.

Golden Valley wasted little time going back on top after intermission, getting rewarded from a flurry of pressure. The Cougars almost cashed in a corner kick, heading the ball off the crossbar. Eber’s squad pounced on the rebound, just to be turned aside by one of Emma Lopez’s seven saves. The Merced goalkeeper couldn’t hold the ball, however, and the third try proved the charm as Brandy Cervantes scored on a header.

Burges evened the score in about the 60th minute. Amaya Valenzuela played a ball up from the back, and Burges sprinted away from the Golden Valley defense, converting on the breakaway.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 10:13 PM with the headline "Golden Valley soccer can’t hold lead in draw with Merced."