Dos Pueblos advanced to the semifinals of the Buena New Year’s Soccer Tournament with a pair of 2-0 wins on a cold, damp, windy Wedneday in Ventura.
The Chargers defeated Rio Mesa and Westlake to win their group in the 12-team event.
In their opener against Rio Mesa, which was moved to the turf field at Ventura High. Ivan Luna scored both goals in the first half.
Luna stunned Rio Mesa with a goal in the first minute. The goal was set up by Vicente Perez, who called off Luna on a long goalkick by Chris Castillo. Perez collected the ball and sent a through pass up the left flank for Luna, who buried the shot.
“The communication on that ball was great by Vicente,” said DP coach Tovi Eliasen.
Luna’s second goal came in the 24th minute off an assist from Irving Beltran.
DP had 11 shots in the first half and finished the match with a 16-5 shot advantage.
Eric Katz made two saves to record the shutout.
The Chargers got goals from Omar Montalvo and Kyle Schmechel, and played some scrappy defense to hold off a tough Westlake team at Buena’s grass field.
“Westlake really pressured us. We got a lucky a couple of times,” Eliasen said. “It was a much closer game thatn the scoreline suggested. They were pretty strong and some big guys.”
Montalvo gave DP a 1-0 lead by jumping on a loose ball in the penalty area and hitting a half volley into the upper right corner of the goal from the left side.
Schmechel scored the second goal after Jonathan Fisher’s corner kick deflected off the head of Castillo and a Buena player. The ball squirted out to Schmechel, who volleyed it into the back of the net.
