Prep soccer: Dinuba goalie still hospitalized, but improvement noted

Dinuba High soccer player Aldo Serrano remained hospitalized in stable condition Saturday, according to his coach, one day after a violent collision during a game left him hospitalized with loss of feeling in his extremities.

Emperors coach Ramiro Rodriguez said Serrano’s condition had improved since Friday night, with movement reported in his arms and legs. Rodriguez added that doctors believe a pre-existing neck injury was likely the cause of Serrano’s lack of movement.

An MRI on Friday night at Visalia’s Kaweah Delta Medical Center showed no broken bones. Serrano was set for a second MRI on Saturday as a precaution.

The senior goalkeeper was injured when he came out to challenge a through-ball and took a shoulder to the chest from an opponent with about 20 minutes left in the second half of Dinuba’s 4-0 win over Exeter.

Serrano walked off under his own power but reported numbness in his mouth and the loss of feeling in his toes and hands once he reached the bench.

Exeter’s trainer told Rodriguez that Serrano was exhibiting concussion-like symptoms, and he was taken by ambulance to Kaweah Delta.

News of Serrano’s injury quickly spread across Twitter, with an outpouring of support and prayers coming from the Central Section soccer community.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 5:31 PM with the headline "Prep soccer: Dinuba goalie still hospitalized, but improvement noted."