REV defeats Redlands, stays tied for first

REDLANDS – Four-year varsity star Landon Garcia is named after former Redlands East Valley High standout Landon Donovan, so Garcia had no choice but to excel.

Donovan went on to play for IMG Academy in Florida and to national and international fame with the Los Angeles Galaxy and a slew of European professional teams. He is regarded as one of the best all-time players from the U.S. 

Tuesday night REV’s current Landon (Garcia) scored the first goal for host REV in a 6-1 victory against rival Redlands.

“It was a great ball from Xavier (Lemos) down the line,” Garcia said. “He crossed it in and I kind of karate-kicked it at the goal. It was amazing. It felt great to get a goal. I’ve been kind of dry lately, but I finally put one in.”  

Garcia has more than 10 goals and assists for his career at REV.

Every victory is important for REV (10-3-4 overall, 5-1) which is battling Beaumont (8-3-3) and Yucaipa (8-4-4, 4-2-0) for the Citrus Belt League title.

“We’re going to win (against Beaumont),” Garcia said. “Our first game against them was really intense, but we came out on top, and I think we’re going to come out on top again.”

REV defeated Beaumont 4-1 on Jan. 14, but two of the Wildcats’ goals came on penalty kicks. The teams play again in Beaumont on Jan. 30. But before REV’s rematch with Beaumont, it faces visiting Cajon on Jan. 23 and visiting Yucaipa on Jan. 28.

Cajon defeated REV 3-1 on Jan. 13.   

In an unexpected development, Beaumont played fourth-place Cajon (13-7-2, 3-3) at REV on Tuesday night following REV’s win against Redlands. The Beaumont vs. Cajon game was switched to REV because of a power outage in Beaumont. Beaumont defeated Cajon 4-1.

Isaiah Harper, Giovanni Carissimi, Eddie Torres, Justin Hernandez, Jayden Perkins, and Garcia had goals for REV against Redlands.

Paul Thompson tallied for Redlands (1-15-1, 0-6) on a penalty kick.

“It’s Redlands and they’re our rival so it’s never easy,” REV coach Mario Urbano said. “But the boys came out with the killer mindset and we played well right from the get-go. We got two early goals and that set the tempo for the rest of the game.”

Urbano was pleased with his defense.

“My back line has been solid all year – Isaiah Harper, Logan Ashton, Brighten Watts, and Eddie Torres,” Urbano said. “We almost got the shutout, except they called the (penalty kick).”

It has been a rocky season for Redlands, whose only victory was a 4-2 decision against San Jacinto Valley Academy on Dec. 27.

“We’ve had players leave the team – quit the team for personal reasons," Redlands coach Mario Marquez said. "It doesn’t help when you have a tough season and then you have players who decide to do other things vs. finishing out the season with the team they’ve committed to. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way it is. But I’m proud of these boys for sticking it out.”

Marquez complimented the play of Caden Minami and Donovan Baliat.