Fuego edge SoCal to clinch division crown

The Fresno Fuego pushed their unbeaten streak into the double digits Saturday night, toppling the Southern California Seahorses 1-0 to claim reign as the Premier Development League’s Central Pacific Division champions with two games in hand.

Earlier in the day, the BYU Cougars drew 1-1 against the Burlingame Dragons that allowed Fresno (9-2-1, 27 points) a chance to nab its first division title since 2013 in their final regular season game at Chukchansi Park. The Dragons (5-4-2) are in second-place with 17 points and three matches remaining.

Alvaro Nogales opened the scoring in the 52nd minute on an assist from team captain/midfielder Milton Blanco. It was Blanco’s sixth assist of the season and Nogales’ second goal in as many games.

Goalkeeper Agustin Rey and the Fuego defense kept the Seahorses (2-7-2) scoreless for the club’s fourth straight clean sheet and sixth in seven games.

Fresno will close out the regular season on the road against Burlingame on July 8, and San Francisco City FC on July 10. Playoffs will begin the weekend of July 16, with the Western Conference Championships scheduled for July 22-24.

Freeze fall in home finale – The Fresno Freeze (6-1-1) saw their seven-match unbeaten streak come to an end Saturday afternoon, losing 2-1 to the California Storm in a Women’s Premier Soccer League match at Chukchansi Park. Trailing 2-0, the Freeze cut the deficit in half on a goal by Vanessa Penuna in the 70th minute. Fresno will close out the regular season on the road next weekend against North Bay FC Wave (July 9) and the San Francisco Nighthawks (July 10).

This story was originally published July 3, 2016 at 12:06 AM with the headline "Fuego edge SoCal to clinch division crown."