Coachella Valley creates logjam

Coachella Valley creates logjam atop DVL standings

THERMAL — The Coachella Valley High School boys' soccer team waited until the last minute to even the Desert Valley League race.

Rosendo Rosales scored with one minute remaining in the second overtime on an assist from Alberto Villa as the Arabs beat La Quinta 1-0 on Friday.

“It was amazing,” Villa said.

The Arabs' victory created a three-way tie atop the DVL standings with Cathedral City, Coachella Valley and La Quinta all at 4-1.
The game started out slowly for both the Arabs (9-6) and Blackhawks (11-4), but the action became exciting and frenetic in the second overtime as both teams pushed hard for the victory.

La Quinta couldn't capitalize on two chances early in the second overtime.

Brad Clarke had an open header that Arabs goalkeeper Jesus Gutierrez stopped, and then J.J. Castillo took a shot from the right corner of the box that worried Arabs coach Adrian Barragan.

“I really thought that was going in because of the way the player struck the ball,” Barragan said. “It had that movement that was going to drop at the last minute. Fortunately it just skimmed the crossbar.”

La Quinta couldn't have asked for better opportunities.

“It was close,” La Quinta coach Gary Nadler said. “They put themselves in the right spot.”

The Arabs got more aggressive late in the second overtime when Barragan put a third forward in the game with five minutes to go, but his team didn't come through until the final minute of the game.

Villa intercepted a La Quinta pass, worked through the middle of the Blackhawks' defense and then threaded a pass between two defenders to the streaking Rosales, who scored the winning goal.

It was the second nail-biter of the week for La Quinta, which beat Indio 2-1 in double overtime Tuesday.

“Our league's tough,” Nadler said. “I didn't think anyone was going to go through league unbeaten, and I guess now no one will.”

Four weeks remain in the DVL season. While three teams are tied for first, Palm Springs and Indio are tied for fourth at 2-2-1. With the addition of Xavier Prep to the DVL this season, four teams are now guaranteed playoff spots.

For the Arabs to win their fourth consecutive DVL title, Barragan knows his team can't wait again until the final moments.

“We have to finish,” he said. “We can't miss these opportunities. We need to execute better.”

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