Girls Soccer: James Logan Opens Play at Tri-Valley Classic With 3-1 Victory Over Livermore

James Logan 3, Livermore 1

The Star: James Logan forward Paloma Zermeno scored two goals, one in each half. She put the Colts ahead 1-0 in the 27^th minute and made it 3-1 with a goal in the 79^th minute.

The Turning Point: After a 1-1 first half, James Logan took control early in the second, taking a 2-1 lead on midfielder Priscilla Haro's goal in the 45^th minute, with an assist from Gabrielle Stange.

The Quote: "That's why I like to come to this tournament. It gives us the competition we need," James Logan coach Tony Villasenor said of competing in the prestigious 46-team Tri-Valley Classic in Danville.

What's next? The Colts continue play Tuesday at the Tri-Valley Classic with a 1:45 p.m. match against Las Lomas at Sycamore Valley Park in Danville.

Bottom Line: James Logan had too much skill and experience for a young Livermore team.

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As a freshman last year on Union City's   girls soccer team, Paloma Zermeno racked up 31 goals, often taking her opponents by surprise.

"All the coaches know more about me," Zermeno said Monday after the Colts' 3-1 victory over Livermore in their opening game at the ninth annual Tri-Valley Classic in Danville. "They just mark me."

Apparently it doesn't matter.

Zermeno scored two goals Monday, putting on a virtual soccer clinic, particularly with her offensive skills.

"She has three brothers who all play soccer, comes from a soccer family," said James Logan coach Tony Villasenor, whose team improved to 4-2-1. "She's great."

Zermeno, who started playing soccer at the age of 4, put the Colts ahead 1-0 with a breakaway goal in the 27^th minute. She got behind the Livermore defense, took a pass from Gabrielle Stange and popped a shot over the head of Cowboys goalie Emily Slominski, who came out high and tried to stop her.

"She's a good player," Livermore coach Jason Maratsos said of Zermeno. "She controls the ball very well. She gave our girls fits. Quite frankly, she was too skillful for the girls we had back there."

Two minutes after Zermeno scored her first goal, Livermore tied the game 1-1 on Kianna Molano's blast from short-range.

The Colts, though, owned the second half. At the 45^th minute, Priscilla Haro took a crossing pass from Stange down the left sideline and slammed home a goal past Slominski.

Livermore's Marissa Scheid nearly knotted the score eight minutes later, but James Logan goalie Preslee Rivera made a diving save.

Zermeno clinched the victory in the 79^th minute with her second goal on another breakaway. This time she beat a helpless Slominski with a right-footed shot to the left corner of the net.

Zermeno, just a sophomore, is Villasenor's top offensive threat, but he has an experienced, senior-laden team and high hopes for the season.

"We have been getting talent and putting it where it belongs," Villasenor said. "Overall the (program) has improved 100 percent over the past four years. I think this team is something to be dealt with."

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