SARATOGA -- Ranked inside the state's top-25 for the first time this season, No. 15 West Valley picked up its fifth conference win by dominating the Gavilan Rams, 4-0.

The Vikings (6-2-6, 5-1-3 Coast-South) came off a signature victory, a 2-1 win on the road against No. 3 Evergreen Valley in which they played two men down for a majority of the match. It was a bit easier sledding against the Rams (4-12-2, 1-8 Coast-South).

West Valley scored three in the first half as sophomore Johan Granados dropped an in-swinging kick right into the heart of the defense that freshman Giovanni Perez knocked past the keeper on the second touch to give West Valley its first goal.

Perez has burst onto the scene as a dominant scoring option, seeming to always come through providing early cushion. In a huge match against No. 10 Folsom Lake early this season, Perez opened the scoring just 24 minutes in. On the road against San Francisco, he opened the scoring as well, scoring just 23 minutes in. He scored twice in the 6-1 victory over Ohlone. Overall, he has four goals over his last six matches -- not coincidence likely that the Vikings have lost just one match in that stretch.

Minutes later the Vikings added on when sophomore Alex Contreras blew past a line of defenders and delivered a stellar cross to sophomore Sebastian Jaral who toppled a Rams defender for his first goal of the season. 

With just two minutes remaining in the first half, Erick Villasenor delivered an absolutely spectacular teardrop pass that found a sprinting Tosh Harlan who tapped it once to get past the keeper and a second time to hit the back of the net.

For Villasenor, who had 26 points with a 10-assist season in 2023, his five-goal, five-assist season has him inching towards the top-five of all-time career points with 41 total. Only Pablo Ramirez Belmont and Armando DelaMora stand in front of him with 46 career points. Villasenor has a legitimate chance to scratch the top-three, as Alejandro Alcaraz had 54. 

West Valley scored again with just 15 minutes remaining, this time reversing its second goal on a pass from Jaral to Contreras. The Viking offense kept Gavilan's defense on its toes at the edge of the attacking area when Jaral turned and delivered it to Contreras, who lashed one from 18 out to push West Valley's lead to four.

For Contreras and Jaral, two veterans on this team, the late-season push is huge. Contreras in particular had three goals and three assists last season as a part-time starter and has started three of West Valley's last five matches. He gives West Valley a ton of length inside the area and is adept at finishing near the goal.

Defensively, the shutout was the Vikings' third of the season and second of the last month. It's an extremely talented defense anchored by reigning Coast-South Defender of the Year Devin Rosas alongside Pavan Nawbatt, Edan Bavelock and Oscar Salcedo, and one that seems to be catching its rhythm at the perfect time. 

The Vikings currently sit tied in terms of winning percentage at the top of the conference with Evergreen Valley, but the Hawks have an extra victory in their ledger. Both teams have four conference matches left. For West Valley, it starts on Friday at home against Chabot, with first-kick set for 3:00 PM.