SAN JOSE - Junior Angel Avalos and senior Dante Reinoso scored to help host Branham to a 2-0 win over Evergreen Valley in a BVAL-Mount Hamilton boys soccer match Monday night.
The victory kept CCS playoff hopes alive for the Bruins (7-8-1, 4-6-1 BVAL-MH), who need to win at least two of their final three matches to become playoff eligible.
"This was obviously a big win for us," said Branham head coach Danny Kadah. "Every match in this league is a struggle, so it's a challenge to pick up three points every time out."
Branham came out strong in the first five minutes, culminating with a goal by Avalos off a feed from Reinoso in the fifth minute for a 1-0 lead. Evergreen Valley nearly tied the match late in the first half when a shot by junior Andrew Iorios whizzed just wide of the left post.
After near misses by seniors Grant King and Jacob Castro hit off the post in the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Bruins extended their lead in the 55th minute. Avalos played a ball to the left sideline to sophomore Joel Silva, who whipped an across-field pass to Reinoso. The senior held off a defender and finished with a left-footed shot just inside the penalty area to make it 2-0.
Both teams are back in action Thursday night when Evergreen Valley (2-9-2, 2-7-2) hosts Lincoln and Branham hosts first-place Prospect.
