The final score of this boys soccer game was Pioneer Valley 4, Santa Maria 0, and the Panthers’ victory was as convincing as the final count indicated it was.

Pioneer Valley goal keeper Israel Mendoza said, “We were prepared for this game,” after he earned a shutout with eight saves in this non-league cross-town rivalry game at Pioneer Valley High School.

Santa Maria coach Al Garcia agreed.

“They came to play. We did not,” he said. “We were here. That was all.”

Pioneer Valley moved to 4-2-1. Santa Maria dropped to 3-4-0. The Saints host Nipomo at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The Panthers are off until next week.

Panthers forward Elvis Zaragoza scored twice Tuesday night. Angel Cortez gave him a nice short pass in the 23rd minute, and Zaragoza knocked a left-to-right shot into the right corner of the net from about the 10-yard line.

He scored again off a beautifully-placed high ball from Rafael Mora. Mora, from hear the right sideline, lofted the ball to Zaragoza, and Zargoza kicked in a high shot from about 15 yards out to make it 3-0.

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“We played Santa Maria twice last year, and we lost to them both times,” said Zaragoza. “This feels nice.”

Garcia said, “We’re down four defenders. That’s a lame excuse for losing, but those four defenders we have missing are really good defenders.

“Our three fullbacks, Alvaro Rojas , Guillermo Rodriguez and Luis Estrada, are all out with injuries — hamstring or back injuries. We have three halfbacks playing fullback. We hope to get the injured guys back for league play,” which starts just after the New Year begins.

Freddy Mendoza popped in the Panthers’ second goal with an assist from Edgar Pantagua in the 36th minute Tuesday evening. Mendoza got the ball after a scramble for it about 10 yards in front of the Santa Maria goal and knocked it in for a 2-0 Panthers lead at halftime.

With about 14 minutes left, Juan Rubio sent a good corner kick toward the Saints’ goal. The Saints defenders tried to clear the curving ball out but knocked it backward and over the goal line instead for the last score.

Mendoza, a senior who last played in his sophomore year, said, “We knew they would come at us hard. We were ready.”

Mendoza was certainly ready. He had no trouble thwarting Saints shots — or thwarting deep threats before the Saints could get off a shot. He added to Santa Maria’s problems by booting the ball deep downfield.

The Panthers were ready for star Santa Maria senior forward Andy Contreras. Mendoza stopped Contreras’ hard one-on-one grounder early in the game, and Contreras couldn’t get a good shot on goal afterward.

“A lot of people,” marked Contreras, one of the Panthers said.

Speaking of being ready, Pioneer Valley defenders Pantagua, Jorge Machuca (sweeper) and Israel Alonso were ready for whatever the Saints had coming.

“We had four defenders out, but our offense wasn’t generating anything,” said Garcia. “They just beat us. It’s that simple.”

“That’s the best our midfield and defense have played all season,” said Mendoza. Jonathan Gonsalez helped anchor the midfield for Pioneer Valley.

The teams played to a stalemate in terms of ball control the first 20 minutes as Saints defender Christian Uribe often stopped the Panthers’ attack, and goal keeper Josue Cardoza made some tough saves.

After that, Zaragoza, Cortez and the other Panthers’ forwards’ speed and ball control gave the Saints’ deep defenders problems.

Garcia said, “We think we’re better than we are. That’s the problem.”

He vowed, “That will change. We’ve been outscored 7-0 (over the last three halfs). We need to wake up.”

Arroyo Grande 4, Cabrillo 2

Antonio Goana scored on two penalty kicks as the Eagles (2-3-2) took this non-league game at Arroyo Grande.

Dylan Efron (Morgan Wack assist) and Isaac Vesca (unassisted) scored the Eagles’ other two goals.

Righetti 3, Santa Ynez 1

Rosario Bras, Anthony Robinson and Servando Perez scored as the Warriors (6-1-0) took a non-league win at home.

Righetti was jolted, though, early in the second half. Goal keeper Ian Lane, who’s been having a big early season, was taken to the hospital with what head coach John Pranjic said was probably either a severely dislocated or broken right ankle.

Lane made seven saves. Jesus Cabrera, his replacement, made six.

Lompoc 3, Nipomo 2

Lompoc struck twice in the final five minutes, issuing host Nipomo a heartbreaker.

Nipomo took the lead with Gustavo Becerra’s goal at the 2-minute mark, coming from Fabio Gomez’s cornerkick.

Lompoc responded in the 25th minute, and the teams took a 1-1 tie into the break.

Nipomo again assumed the lead in the 53rd minute on Diego DeLeon’s penalty kick. However, Lompoc answered the call in crunch time, the second goal coming with some assistance from the ref. Lompoc’s direct free kick bounced off the ref and to a Brave, who shot and scored.

Nipomo goalie Josue Mariscall finished with eight saves.

Paso Robles 3, St. Joseph 0

Paso Robles scored two first-half goals to defeat St. Joseph, despite a strong effort from Knights’ goalie John-Carlo Boyle.

Boyle finished with 12 saves, while Mitch McNulty did an admirable job at sweeper. Joe Dominguez — one of four starting freshman — played a good game at forward for St. Joseph, which next faces Coast Union at home Thursday.

Boys basketball

Mission Prep 56, St. Joseph 50

The Royals overhauled the Knights (1-5) at St. Joseph’s Hofschulte Gym by outscoring them 18-6 the fourth quarter.

Ryan Smalley led the Knights with 21 points. Nolan Adlesh scored 13. St. Joseph plays its first game in the Mission Prep Tournament Dec. 18.

Laguna Blanca 78, VCA 22

The Santa Barbara-based Owls out-scored the Lions 19-1 the first quarter and rolled from there.

Drew Schettler pulled down 14 rebounds for VCA (0-2) in the road loss. He led their scoring with seven points.

December 10, 2008