Before Sierra Valley Conference action started yesterday, Thursday, the Cordova High School boys soccer team finished its pre-season schedule with four non-league games.

The last of those games for the Lancers was at Lancers Stadium against Placer, which ended in a 3-1 loss on Jan. 9th. Cordova (3-7-3) finished the slate of games with a 1-2-1 mark.

“Things have been really up and down over the course of the last four games,” said Cordova head coach Eric Mc Cahon. “Over the (holiday) break, we installed some new tactics and wrinkles in the formation… tough way to wrap up our non-league schedule and prepare for league.”

The visiting Hillmen found ways to bust through the Lancers’ defense in the final 40 minutes of the game. Leading 1-0 at halftime, Placer scored two goals in the second half to secure the win.

Cordova scored its only goal, also in the second half. That came off the feet of junior midfielder Fernando Vasquez.

“We were able to put our passes together, and carve out some scoring opportunities, but failed to capitalize,” Mc Cahon said.

Lancer goalie Kevin Bejines had three saves in the game against the Hillmen.

Center 2, Cordova 0
In a non-league road game at Antelope on Jan. 6th, the Lancers had trouble finding the net against the Cougars.

“The theme for the next two games became inconsistency,” Mc Cahon said. “In both games (including Placer) we had moments where we played well.”

Bejines had two saves for the Lancers.

“Unfortunately, we fell behind in both games and started to press,” Mc Cahon said. “Once we started pressing higher up the field chasing goals it left us vulnerable at the back which ended up in us conceding more goals, and ultimately back-to-back losses.”

Cordova 1, Christian Brothers 1
In a home game at Lancers Stadium against the Falcons on Jan. 5th, the Lancers scored their lone goal in the first half. Junior midfielder Yevgeniy Kharamtsova had that shot for the Lancers.

In the second half, Christian Brothers responded with a goal.

Cordova 4, Laguna Creek 2
The first of four non-league games last week started with this contest at Lancers Stadium on Jan. 3rd.

Laguna Creek actually led 1-0 at halftime. Then the scoring gates opened in the second half for the Lancers.

Part of the scoring fest included two goals each from Oscar Natalio and Erick Hernandez-Chavez, both juniors.

“Things seemed to click.in the win versus Laguna Creek,” Mc Cahon said. “The boys started to look too hard for the shots they wanted versus taking the shot on goal that were there.”

Yesterday, Cordova started SVC action at Rosemont. Next Tuesday, Cordova will host its first conference game against Galt, which won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title in 2015 – when boys soccer was played during the fall season before moved to winter this school year.

“We’ll keep plugging away in training and do our best to get ready for Rosemont,” Mc Cahon said of the Lancers’ first SVC game against the Wolverines.