South Tahoe downs Tiger boys

Going into the season, the big question was who would be South Tahoe's primary goal scorers.

That question may have been answered on Wednesday, when Bryan "Chino" Garcia scored two goals and Gil Navarro scored another as the Vikings beat Douglas 3-1 in a Sierra League match at South Tahoe Middle School.

Douglas coach Milko Vasquez believes that South Tahoe might be vulnerable for the first time in several years.

"In years past, we truly haven't had the same caliber of players as South Tahoe," said Vasquez, whose team fell to 8-2 overall and 2-2 in league. "I think we do now. That's something positive for us because we get them at home next time. You can actually afford to make mistakes against them now."

In the 28th minute, Garcia's half-volley on a bouncing ball beat Douglas keeper Jose Alcaraz, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. It stayed that way until the 42nd minute when Oscar Gonzalez's long-range shot bounced off the cross bar and was headed into the net by Michael Gransbery.

Gransbery's equalizer was his 15th goal of the season and the 46th of his career. His goal also gave the Tigers a much-needed confidence boost.

South Tahoe's Paulo Caetano, a foreign exchange student from Brazil, was taken down outside the box in the 50th minute by Douglas defender Kyle Mannschreck. Ian Chandler's ensuing free kick was sent into the box and found an unmarked Chino, whose diving header beat Alcaraz and put the Vikings up 2-1.

Then in the 78th minute, Navarro sealed the victory when he followed a Andres Muñoz shot that was initially saved by Alcaraz but was then redirected into the net by Navarro.