SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ SOCCER ROUNDUP : Anaheim Shuts Out Short-Handed El Dorado

Anaheim midfielder William Monge’s second-half goal solidified the Colonists’ 3-0 shutout of El Dorado in the second round of the Southern Section Division II-A boys’ soccer playoffs Wednesday.

The teams were evenly matched statistically--both goalies made eight saves on the day and each team took 14 shots on goal--but Anaheim (16-1-8) was more industrious on the follow through.

“They put the ball in when they needed to,” El Dorado Coach Gary Imai said. “That was the key.”

The Hawks (15-3-8) were playing without three all-league starters: goalie Blayne Leitner, who broke his leg two matches before the end of the regular season; forward Dan Molnar, who was hurt in the first-round game against Calexico, and defenseman Matt Ritchie, who was injured in practice this week.

Ten seconds before the first half ended, Colonist Jaime Garcia emerged from a knot in front of the goal and tapped the ball in for the match’s opening score. Ten minutes into the second half, midfielder Alex Perez drove down the center and passed to Garcia, who shot from the right. The ball caromed off the left pole and into the net.

Monge’s goal came after he passed to Perez, who passed to Garcia, who shot the ball. El Dorado goalie Nate Anderson blocked it, but Monge was there to drive in the rebound.

Last year, El Dorado beat a favored Anaheim team, 2-1, in the second round.