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It’s all Larkin in crosstown matchup

Senior Gonsalo Garcia and the Larkin boys soccer team weren’t going to take it easy on crosstown rival Elgin on Tuesday night.

Garcia scored twice and had an assist as the Royals dominated the Maroons, 5-1, in Upstate Eight River action at Memorial Field.

“It feels great,” Garcia said. “It’s probably one of the best feelings ever knowing they are such a big-time rival.”

The Royals (7-4-3, 2-1-1) took the lead with 30:58 remaining in the first half when Griffen Perez tried to chip a shot over Elgin goalkeeper Flavio Jaimes. Jaimes got his fingers to the shot, but not enough to keep the ball from going into the net for a 1-0 Larkin lead.

Chris Villalobos made it 2-0 off an assist from Perez with 16:42 to go in the opening half.

Elgin, which had its cheerleaders and band at the game on Larkin’s senior night, cut the deficit to 2-1 with 1 minutes remaining in the first half as Roberto Martinez converted on a near-post shot.

Garcia gave the Royals a 2-goal advantage again less than 2 minutes later. Garcia ran onto a free kick from Hector Mendoza and fired a right-footed volley past Jaimes.

“I thought we had some really nice strikes offensively,” Larkin coach Ken Hall said. “We have a tendency to want to play with the ball. We’ve been preaching all year that we want to go forward and put pressure on their goal. I think we did a good job of that today.”

Kevin Alas scored off an assist from Garcia with 27:33 remaining. Garcia added his second goal 6 minutes later.

The Maroons (5-7-3, 0-3) had several shots on goal early on in the second half, something they weren’t doing very well in the opening 40 minutes. But Larkin goalkeeper Aldair Dominguez, who only played the second half, made 7 saves.

“At the end of the day, we have to score,” Elgin coach Dave Borg said. “We laid an egg tonight. They shot the ball from 18, 20 (yards out), which is what we need to do.”

Javy Delgado started in goal for the Royals and made 1 save in the first half. Tuesday was the first game since Larkin lost its starting goalkeeper Leo Perez for the season with a broken right arm.

  Larkin’s Gonsalo Garcia brings the ball through the midfield with Elgin’s Jose Jaimes giving chase during Tuesday’s game at Memorial Field in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Larkin’s Ricardo Nava collides with Elgin goalkeeper Flavio Jaimes during Tuesday’s game at Memorial Field in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Larkin teammates celebrate with Gonsalo Garcia (10) after his goal against Elgin during Tuesday’s game at Memorial Field in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Elgin’s Joel Chavez keeps his eyes on the ball with a Larkin defender coming over his back during Tuesday’s game at Memorial Field in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
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