Monroe Misses Out on Breaks as Pathfinders Take the Title : Boys: Vikings can’t turn their scoring opportunities into goals, and Fremont picks up a 1-0 victory. Monroe ends season 12-2.

Monroe fullback Eduardo Silva ripped off his jersey and sat alone on the grass field, a solitary symbol of the Vikings’ frustration after the boys’ City Section soccer championship game at Birmingham.

After being thoroughly outplayed by Fremont in the first half, Monroe in the second half created the chaotic, frenzied atmosphere on which it thrives, but could not score, and the Pathfinders’ 1-0 halftime lead held up for their first City title.

“We had the shots, they had the luck,” Monroe Coach Elias Andrade said with a pained smile.

There was no luck involved on the game’s only goal, scored by Pathfinder forward Hector Moreno in the 14th minute of the first half. Moreno, streaking down the center of the field, received a cross from the right corner by Hugo Valencia and volleyed it past charging Viking goalkeeper Misael Viramontes. Moreno injured his right calf on the play, left the match and did not return.

But Monroe (12-2), though not as fast or skillful as Fremont (15-1-1), had many scoring opportunities.

The Vikings’ nearest miss came midway through the second half, when forward Nicolas Duran dribbled past two defenders on the left side and as he neared the end line, fired a low, hard shot past Fremont goalie Noe Valadez.

The ball ricocheted off Duran’s teammate, forward Wilson Lopez, in front of the goal and veered wide of the left post.

A disbelieving Lopez sank to his knees and cradled his head in his hands.

Minutes later, Duran, who had nearly scored twice in the first half, added another near miss when his line-drive free kick from 20 yards away skimmed off the crossbar.

And when forward Rafael Jaramillo couldn’t get off a good shot despite three opportunities in the next five minutes, the Vikings either looked skyward and mumbled, stampeding their feet in exasperation or hid their eyes.

“He was just too anxious,” Andrade said of Jaramillo. “He could have maintained his composure. But he played well, and created his opportunities. I’m proud of these kids. We accomplished a great deal.”

After the match, Lopez, who played for City champion Garfield last season before transferring to Monroe last summer, sat dejectedly on the sideline, his jersey crumpled next to him.

“We had some chances,” Lopez said. “But we couldn’t score. I don’t know. I don’t feel good. It’s hard.”