Dos Pueblos' Vicente Perez attempts a slide tackle on the wet playing surface on Friday. (Paralee Schmechel Photos)
Dos Pueblos overcame a slow start and blanked Almont League champion Schurr 2-0 in a CIF Division 1 boys soccer first-round playoff game on Friday in Montebello.
The Chargers will next play third-seeded Loyola at home on Wednesday.
Friday’s game was scoreless until the 39th minute when Danny Rowell scored off a long throw from Scott Terry.
“Danny was in a perfect spot,” DP coach Tovi Eliasen said. “He took it down and tapped it in. It was huge for us to get momentum going into halftime.”
The Chargers didn’t arrive at Schurr until 25 minutes before kickoff.
“It was kind of a rush. We turned in our lineup and we started playing,” Eliasen said. “In the second half, we played well and played together. Our communication went back up and we got more positive team play. It was the way you want to play.”
Dos Pueblos captain Danny Rowell passes it forward
The Chargers (18-5-2) scored their second goal in the 54th minute. Irving Beltran made a quick touch to Vicente Perez and Perez pounded in his shot from eight yards.
“Vicente had a tremendous game with the work rate he had. It’s fitting he had a goal today because he was fantastic.”
Goalkeeper Eric Katz played a solid game in pouring rain.
“He didn’t spill anything,” Eliasen said. “He never gave up a rebound and was solid.”
Eliasen also praised the play of central defender Roberto Carmona and Terry up front.
“Getting our first win out of the way is great for us,” said Eliasen, who guided DP to the CIF Division 2 final last year. “We want to recapture that playoff fever like last year and get a bunch of wins.”
