The Culver City High School boys’ soccer team is in first place in the Ocean League after shutout wins against visiting Beverly Hills and Morningside last week.
The Centaurs visited Santa Monica, a team they shut out 3-0 on Jan. 17 at home, on Wednesday but scores were unavailable at press time. Culver City will host Inglewood Friday at 3:30 p.m. and then play against visiting Hawthorne in another key league match Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m.
At Culver on Jan. 29, the Centaurs blanked the Normans, 3-0. At Morningside last Friday, Culver did not have its best match, but managed to shut out the Monarchs, 2-0.
Team captain Ryan Armstrong scored both goals near the start and the finish of the match against Morningside.
Armstrong got things started in just the second minute on an assist off center-midfielder Sergio Solis. Armstrong was able to focus the ball past Morningside’s sweeper and into the net. His second goal came in the 79th minute as he dribbled in the ball and beat the Monarch defense and goalkeeper.
“It was an ugly win,” Culver assistant Bryan Sullivan said.
The Centaurs, who improved to 5-0-1 in league and 11-9-2 overall, dominated Beverly Hills.
Nico Melendez got things started for Culver while Abel Lezcano scored the second goal off an assist by Carlos Rincon.
Rincon finished off the Centaur scoring in the 76th minute with Diego Tinoco assisting with Rincon’s goal.
Junior goalkeepers Liber Arce and Tommy Dele Toore shared shutouts in each match.
“We got it together after a slow start,” Culver City coach Louie Espeleta said. “The kids kept their composure and adversity. It changed everything around.”
Entering the Centaurs’ contest against the Normans, Culver was tied for first place with Hawthorne after the two teams battled to a 3-3 tie on Jan. 24.
The Cougars lost a 2-1 overtime match to host Santa Monica, now in second place at 5-1, to move Culver alone atop.
Hawthorne is currently in third place with a 4-1-1 rec after a 2-1 win at Beverly Hills last Friday.
