Janesville Vikings collect first victory on Sagrero’s goal against Cougars
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JANESVILLE — The timing was perfect for Janesville Parker’s boys soccer team.
Winless on the season, the Vikings finally found the victory column Tuesday night.
And the opponent? None other than crosstown rival Janesville Craig.
Carlos Sagrero’s rebound goal off his missed penalty kick at 62:01 lifted Parker to a 1-0 win in a Big Eight Conference thriller.
Parker (1-12-2, 1-7-0) dominated play for most of the game but needed Sagrero’s heroics to pick up win No. 1.
“I thought we were the best 0-12 team in the state,” Holmes said. “We’ve been very close to winning games, and there haven’t been many games where we haven’t competed against good teams.
“It was a typical Craig/Parker game. I thought both teams played well, especially the seniors. It’s just nice to get that first win.”
Neither team had many scoring opportunities. Peter Cooney made eight saves for Craig (3-15-1, 0-8-0), while Brayan Manzanilla made four stops for Parker.
After playing to a scoreless tie in a nonconference game earlier this season, the two teams played a scoreless first half. Parker’s Pedro Arvizo nearly ended the scoreless drought in the 37th minute, but his header soared just over the top of the goal. The Vikings outshot the Cougars, 5-2, in the first half but had nothing to show for it.
Parker finally got on the board thanks to a Craig mistake on the defensive end. The Cougars were whistled for a hand ball inside the goalie box, and the Vikings were awarded a penalty kick. Sagrero took the penalty kick and tried to direct a shot to the right of Cooney.
The senior goaltender stopped the initial shot but couldn’t corral the ball. Sagrero was there for the rebound and fired a shot past a sprawling Cooney.
Craig coach Charles Friedrich, whose team has been shutout 11 times this season, said it’s the same old, same old for the Cougars.
“We get good (scoring) chances, but we can’t finish,” Friedrich said. “It’s still a young team, and they’ll learn, but it also comes down to keeping your composure.
“It’s a tough one to lose, but I hope they can pick themselves up. It comes down to eliminating mistakes and capitalizing when you get the opportunity.”
PARKER 1, CRAIG 0
Janesville Parker 0 1—1
Janesville Craig 0 0—0
Second Half
JP—Carlos Sagrero, 62:01.
Saves—Brayan Manzanilla (JP) 4, Peter Cooney (JC) 8.
Sep 30, 2011 at 3:04 p.m.
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Have both Janesville teams ever been 0-7 in conference during the same season before?
Sep 29, 2011 at 6:06 a.m.
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Outstanding game Parker! You guys played hard and deserved the win!! Great passing, you held your lanes which kept the field spread out, and you hustled the whole night!
Sep 28, 2011 at 8:21 p.m.
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I am so very proud of the Vikings! As an old Parker soccer coach, I understand what it means to beat the Cougars. We did 5-2 in my final game as a coach. God bless all of you young Vikings!
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