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Crescenta Valley boys’ soccer settles for disappointing tie against Muir

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PASADENA — Despite opportunities to win and a possibility to move up in the standings, Tuesday was a frustrating afternoon for the Crescenta Valley High boys’ soccer team.

The visiting Falcons had a late potential game-winner clank off the crossbar and were forced to settle for a scoreless tie with Muir on an unusually hot day in Pasadena.

With the deadlock, Muir (9-7-4 overall, 6-4-3 in league) now owns a two-point lead for third place in the league standings.

Crescenta Valley (8-8-7, 5-5-3), which entered in fourth place and could have moved into third with a win, now falls to fifth with 18 points in the standings. Burbank (6-6-1 in league for 19 points) leapfrogged the Falcons for fourth and the league’s final automatic spot with one game remaining.

Crescenta Valley closes the season Thursday at Arcadia (0-10-3) at 3:30 p.m. while Burbank travels to crosstown rival Burroughs (9-3-1) in the league season finale.

“If we ended up beating Muir, then we pull even for third place and have the tie-breaker,” Falcons Coach Grant Clark said. “Now you have to hope for a little help with other games in league. It’s unfortunate, because we had everything in our hands.”

Crescenta Valley outshot Muir, 13-10, with maybe no attempt more important than a 15-yard missile from sophomore Ayden Blackwood.

The midfielder took possession of a pass from the wing, deked a defender, and then breached the 18 when Blackwood rifled a shot off the crossbar and down into play in the 78th minute.

The rebound was hauled in by the Falcons and sophomore Kyle Quezada shot high from 18 yards 20 seconds later.

“Man, we just couldn’t get it in,” Clark said.

With Crescenta Valley throwing numbers into Muir’s box, the Mustangs also had a couple of good chances created out of counter-attacks.

Maybe the best for Muir came when a through ball hit Mustangs halfback Santana Nunez in stride about 35 yards from goal in the 77th minute.

Just as Nunez entered the penalty area, he was tracked down by Falcons defender Alex Atanackovic, who jumped in front of Nunez’ blast and deflected the ball before goalie Vache Sarkissian (five saves) needed to make a play.

About a minute earlier, Sarkissian made a diving punch save on a 25-yard shot from Muir’s Uriel Gonzalez.

“We had chances in the last 10 minutes and they had chances in the last 10 minutes,” Muir Coach Mario Hernandez said. “It was a good game.”

While Crescenta Valley’s offense just missed, its defense was stout throughout.

Atanackovic’s stop was one of two game-changing clearouts by the Falcons, who saw Muir’s Satchel Robinson dribble and shoot around Sarkissian in the second minute only to have senior fullback Augustine Ahn boot the ball out of play.

“It’s always tough to come out with a tie, but when you play Muir, you know what you’re going to get,” Ahn said. “It’s always back and forth. I’m not happy with this tie, but we have to move on.”

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