Prep Boys Soccer: Poway High blanks Rancho Bernardo 3-0

The Poway High boys soccer team went unbeaten en route to the 2014 Palomar League crown. On Friday night, the Titans were in desperate need of a win just to get back in the race.

And they got it.

After two straight uninspiring losses, Poway avoided the cellar in the league standings with a 3-0 victory over rival Rancho Bernardo at Poway High.

Kellen Gallagher scored a goal and registered an assist and striker Miguel Berry found the back of the net in his return from an ankle injury that has kept him off the pitch for a few weeks.

“It was a big win,” Gallagher said. “We were coming off two losses to CCA and Torrey Pines and we didn’t play our best soccer. We came out today against our rival and got the win we needed in order to have a chance to win league.”

Poway and Rancho Bernardo are both 2-2 in league and still within striking distance of first-place Torrey Pines.

The Titans, who fell 3-1 to Canyon Crest Academy last week and then were blanked 3-0 by Torrey Pines on Wednesday, finally got back to their goal-scoring ways in this one.

Gallagher got it going with a goal in the 36th minute. Ian Hayne took the ball up the right side and made the perfect center to Gallagher, who pounded it home for a 1-0 halftime lead.

The Titans went up 2-0 just three minutes into the second half when Jack Carlson took Gallagher’s cross and ripped one into the net.

Berry capped the scoring on a breakaway in the 51st minute. He got behind the defense with the ball and beat the oncoming goalkeeper with a flick to the far post.

“I felt like this was a must-win game, especially because it is our rival,” Gallagher said. “We had those two losses and it is just nice to come out here and get a win.”