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Turlock and Downey draw in battle for first place
Turlock boys soccer 1
Turlock’s Luis Llamas scored a goal in the 22nd minute of Tuesday’s match against Downey (CHRISTOPHER CORREA/The Journal).

MODESTO — The top of the Central California Athletic League boys soccer standings remained unchanged following Tuesday night’s slate of action after Turlock and Downey battled to a 1-1 draw under the lights of Chuck Hughes Stadium in Modesto.

The Bulldogs maintained their first-place position with a 5-1-1 record against conference opponents (10-5-3 overall) while the Knights stayed in second with a 4-1-2 record in league play (11-3-3). 

Turlock controlled possession for most of the first half, and cashed in during the 22nd minute thanks to a soft, well-placed header from junior Luis Llamas after a fight for the ball inside the goalkeeper’s box. It was his fifth score of the season, and he celebrated with a shrug and backflip.

That celebratory mood quickly evaporated. 

Two minutes later, Downey’s Daniel Guzman intercepted a short pass attempt back to goalkeeper Matthew Lopez. Guzman dribbled to his left and quickly sent the ball into the left side of the net for the equalizer.

Turlock assistant head coach Jaime Carbajal felt as if his team became comfortable and let their guards down following Llamas’ go-ahead goal. 

“We started off really strong in the first half, but then had a little bit of a lack of focus and we got scored on. Simple as that,” he said. ”We were doing fine high-pressing in the beginning, and it was just unfortunate on that play where we softened up. We kind of took our foot off the gas pedal, and it cost us a goal and likely a win.”

The Knights were poised to take the lead, blitzing for most of the second half and getting off four shots on goal, but Guzman held firm. He first deflected an attempt out of bounds in the opening minutes of the half. In the 65th minute, he punched an attempt from Johan Ramirez back into the field of play and immediately leaped high to redirect a ricochet shot off the crossbar and out of play.

Turlock’s top scorer on the year, senior Sebastian Carbajal, also had his share of opportunities. In the 47th minute, with goalkeeper Javier Diaz returning to his feet after a save, Carbajal blasted a shot towards the net, but the head of a Downey defender popped out and deflected it into the corner. In the 74th minute, he had an angle from the left side of the box, but overcompensated and pushed the ball wide right. Two minutes later, he raced towards the net and tangled legs with Arturo Sarabia, sending them both crashing to the floor. The Bulldog bench pleaded for a penalty, but to no avail.

“We had our chances,” Carbajal said. “But to earn a tie away from home, we’ll take it. Now, we just keep working. Just because we’re at the top doesn’t mean we’re going to stay at the top. It’s a strong league and we have to finish games and take advantage of our opportunities.”

The Bulldogs will once again travel to Modesto on Thursday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Enochs, who are winless through six league games.