SOCCER : Belmont, Bell Have a Score to Settle

Eight years ago Bell and Belmont clashed in a City Section soccer championship--and every contest since then has been a grudge match.

The Eagles (12-0-1) and Sentinels (9-1-2) vied for the title Saturday afternoon at Birmingham High in Van Nuys. (See Sports, Section C, for results.) Both teams have a similar style--low one-touch passes and fast breaks. Both have qualified for the finals three times since 1986. Both have a City title under their belt.

And both have a score to settle.

The last time the Eagles played the Sentinels was in the first round of last season’s playoffs. Undefeated Belmont was favored to make a run for the City title, but Bell, a wild-card entry, knocked the Sentinels out in a penalty kick shootout.

The Eagles also defeated Belmont in the semifinals in 1991, the year they went on to win their first City championship. And the only time both teams met in the finals, in 1986, Belmont was the winner.

Thursday Semifinals

Belmont 2, San Pedro 1--Sentinel strikers Julio Vidrio and Nelson Moran each scored in the first half at Daniels Field to hand the No. 2 seeded Pirates (11-1-1) their sole loss.

After 20 minutes of constant pressure, Vidrio scored on a header from a pass by Fernando Bautista. It was close to halftime when Jose Salmeron served Nelson Moran a pass between two defenders for a fast break and another goal.

The Pirates scored five minutes into the second half on a Sentinel defensive error.

Bell 2, Kennedy 0--Striker Maynor Alvarez scored two second-half goals for the Eagles to shut out fourth-seeded Kennedy (9-2) in a semifinal match at Bell.

Tuesday Quarterfinals

Bell 3, Van Nuys 1 (OT)--Oswaldo Williams and Luis Castillo each scored in the waning minutes of overtime for the Eagles.

The Wolves (7-3-2) were on the scoreboard first with an unassisted goal by Federico Arroyo. With 10 minutes left in regulation, Ernesto Serratos, who was playing goalie for most of the game, was moved to forward and scored the tying goal.

San Pedro 5, Locke 2--In a tightly contested first half, Locke opened the scoring with a goal by Sergio Huerta on a breakaway at the 15-minute mark. The Pirates tied 10 minutes later and tallied again with two minutes before the half for the lead.

The Saints (7-2-1) tied it at 2 two minutes into the second half with senior Ricardo Chavez’s 13th goal of the season--a header from a cross by Alberto Trujillo. The Pirates then scored three quick goals on a break away and two penalty kicks for a decisive victory.

Belmont 4, Garfield 0 (OT)-- The Sentinels found a crack in the Bulldogs’ goal in overtime. The first shot came off a corner kick by Fernando Bautista on a header in the 84th minute. Edwin Barahona followed with another goal from a free kick and Eric Hernandez tallied his 13th. Salvador Gochez made the last goal.

Southern Section

Bell Gardens 1, Harvard-Westlake 0 (OT)--Gustavo Garita scored on a volley at close range from a throw-in by Roberto Arredondo five minutes into overtime. The victory broke the Wolverines’ 24-game unbeaten streak.

Saturday night, Bell Gardens (20-5-3) played Burbank Burroughs (14-6-3) at Cerritos Gahr High in search of their third Southern Section Division III title. (See Sports, Section C, for results.)