Late goals save Kerman High season against Madera in Division III opening round

Leave it to sophomore Jonathan Velásquez to deliver Wednesday night when No. 3-seed Kerman High needed it the most.

Facing a strong challenge from Madera High in the opening round of the CIF Central Section Division III boys soccer playoffs, Velásquez managed to control the ball with his left foot in heavy traffic and then right-footed the ball into the net to give the host Lions a 1-0 advantage with 4½ minutes left in the match.

Six minutes later, Velásquez scored again as Kerman improved to 25-1.

“He’s actually been stepping it up,” said Kerman coach Raúl Arámbula about his sophomore scoring machine. “We lost a forward and he (Velásquez) was actually my right winger. We put him in one game and after that game he’s been scoring every single game.”

Velásquez has scored a team-high 19 goals.

“We weren’t at our best at the start,” he said, “but we finished it.”

Velásquez attributed Kerman’s late comeback in the second half to his coach’s “inspirational” talk at halftime.

“I knew Madera was going to play tough. They’re a really good team. Their goalie (Jesse Cuevas) is amazing.”

Cuevas kept making big stops, until the end when the Kerman offense bunched up inside the box and kept pounding away until the Velásquez goals.

Arámbula had some concern about the opening half when Madera’s defense thwarted several Kerman offensive attacks.

“I talked to the boys about being patient,” said Arámbula, whose team went 9-0 in the North Sequoia League. “I was very patient as a coach, and I have a lot of confidence in my defense. We’re probably the best defense in the Valley.

“I knew the score would come late in the game, or in overtime.”

About the only concern Arámbula had going into the match was getting the No. 3 seed despite its only loss (2-1 in a tournament game) coming to an elite Farmersville High squad that is ranked fourth in the section.

“To be honest, I was very disappointed because I know these boys have been working very hard,” said Arámbula. “I expected to be on top of some of the teams. But, we’re ready for whatever.”

Kerman is in the same draw as Lindsay High (18-3 and the fifth-ranked overall team in the section). Kerman hosts Atascadero (13-10-2, and a 2-1 winner over Sunnyside) in second-round play Friday.

Madera senior Elmer García, who is headed to a soccer academy in Spain, was philosophical after the match.

“I definitely thought we could have come out of here with a win,” said García. “In the playoffs, everyone is 0-0 no matter what division you are in. You just come out here and give it your all.”