Morales' hat trick too much for West
| Saturday, Feb 28 2009 02:17 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:02 PM
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West High Viking Jorge Salas and Tulare Western's Aaron Caudle battle for the ball during Friday's big game at West.
West High was hoping history would be made on its field in the Central Section Division II boys soccer championship Friday night.
It was. Unfortunately, not in the Vikings favor.
Tulare Western, the No. 4 seed, captured its first Central Section championship in boys soccer with a 3-0 victory over West, which was looking to end a 19-year drought in section boys soccer title games.
Eligio Morales wasn't a one-man show for the Mustangs but he was the only player to score.
Listed at 6-foot on the roster, Morales towered over the West defenders and took advantage of a defensive lapse in the 4th minute for Tulare Western's first goal.
After receiving a pass from Daniel Martins, Morales slipped past his defender and needed only to beat goalkeeper Juan Sandoval.
Sandoval charged toward and tried to slide tackle Morales in hopes of jarring the ball free but Morales chipped the ball over Sandoval and turned to celebrate the goal even before it hit the net.
It was a precursor of things to come for Morales and West's defense.
Twenty-seven minutes later, Morales struck again, this time using his size with a header past Sandoval for a 2-0 lead.
"No. 17 (Morales) is an absolute fantastic soccer player," West coach Brock Snider said. Morales finished the scoring with an insurance goal in the 64th minute.
If not for a outstanding individual effort from Sandoval in the 16th minute, Morales might have had a fourth goal.
Morales took a centering pass from Martins in front of the goal and fired a quick kick. Sandoval dove to his left and punched the ball over the goal for the save.
The Vikings, the No. 3 seed, controlled the ball in their zone for most of the first half, but missed on their scoring chances.
Forward Martin Saavedra had a point-blank shot deflected just on the outside of the post, and Juan Palo Aguilera's header hit the top of the crossbar in the 29th minute.
"The first half we had just as many opportunities as them. They finished, we didn't," Snider said. "We had some great scoring opportunities..."
