Trojans back on top

The Orland High boys soccer team found itself in familiar territory Saturday following its Division II soccer championship match-up with Live Oak - reigning as section champions.

The Trojans used three second-half goals to post a 4-1 win over the visiting Lions to secure their third section championship in the last eight years.

"All the credit goes to these boys, " said Orland coach Ross Sandberg. "This is the one of the most talented and mature teams I've coached at Orland High, and I believe we'll be right back in this title hunt next year."

Levi Ruiz opened the scoring with a 30-yard lofted shot to give Orland a 1-0 lead in the first half, and that score remained until the halftime whistle.

Four minutes into the second half, Aldrick Rosas, with an assist by Ruiz, put a 20-yard strike into the upper corner just past the Live Oak goalkeeper. While the middle of the field looked like mud soup, especially in front of the Orland goal, Live Oak managed to skip a ball past the Orland keeper to make it 2-1 with twenty minutes left.

Less than a minute after Orland's kickoff, Eduardo Diaz placed a shot past the Live Oak defense on a perfect cross from Ruiz. Minutes later, Rosas tapped a ball to Diaz in front of the Live Oak goal and Diaz slotted it past three defenders to put the game away.

Orland ended the season with a 16-1-1 record, and coach Ross Sandberg upped his coaching record to 97-13-2.