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Sports

Flores Scores Twice to Lead Dragons

The Bernstein boys' soccer squad snaps its losing streak with a 3-1 win at Belmont.

In the Spanish La Liga it’s always exciting when an upstart little team like Hercules or Racing Santander punches above its weight and beats a known powerhouse like Real Madrid or Barcelona.

When it comes to Central League boys soccer, is considered an upstart while Belmont has long been an established area power. So for the Dragons, traveling east and emerging with a 3-1 victory over the Sentinels was no small feat.

“Yeah it’s actually one of our best wins,” Bernstein head coach said. “Belmont is a top school, they've had a good reputation for years, even the girls soccer team, so we’re happy that we won. We’re a new school so we’re struggling a bit but we’re doing good.”

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After an unsettled first 30 minutes, Bernstein (2-6-3 overall, 1-3-1 league) took the lead right on the half hour-mark courtesy of senior . The Dragons' striker was unmarked at the top of the penalty area when he capitalized on a defensive breakdown and blasted the ball past goalkeeper Julian Ortega to give Bernstein a 1-0 lead.

“I just saw the defense kick it wrong,” recalled Flores. “Then my other offense was going to kick it and I told him let it go and I kicked it and thank God it went in.”

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Flores scored again in the 52nd minute when he fired in an off-angle shot from the edge of the 18-yard box that ricocheted off the far post and crossed over the goal line to make it 2-0.

“Well I saw the angle and I shot once and it came out wrong because of the goalie but then I thought I’d try it different," Flores said. "And that’s how it came out and thank God it went in again.”

Belmont (5-3-6, 4-0-3) eventually pulled to within a goal in the 76th minute when it was awarded a free kick on a foul from inside the 18-yard box. Jorge Orellano drove his effort in low and fast toward the far corner, where a Dragons defender cleared it off the line, but only as far as to Belmont midfielder Pedro Chavez, who kicked it in from point-blank range.

Chavez’s goal breathed new life into the Sentinels, who suddenly began to believe they might be able to salvage a draw. They nearly did just two minutes later when Bernstein gave up another free kick inside the 18-yard box, this time on a handball. Rolando “Argentino” Riggio, Belmont’s Argentine striker, stepped up to the mark but sailed the ball over the crossbar.

Seconds later, Bernstein’s was brought inside the opposite penalty area and awarded a direct free kick. The junior stepped up to the spot and coolly fired the ball into the top corner of the net past a diving Ortega to clinch the game mere seconds before the final whistle was blown.

“I think the team was playing with heart and everybody was playing good,” Alvarez said. "They were motivated today so I think they were 100 percent on the field. Especially because we’re not home, we’re away so it was hard. So they’re good, the kids are happy. “

Bernstein travels to crosstown rival Hollywood (9-2-3, 4-1-1) next Wednesday. The Dragons will be looking for revenge after losing the first meeting 1-0.  

-- Alex Baker

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