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Menlo School-Atherton's Sam Parker and Sanjay Padval lay on the ground, the aftermath of a frantic Knights rush in front of Eastside Prep-East Palo Alto's goal. The Panthers' Darryl Sepulveda was the first to offer the postgame handshake to Parker for a job well done. Visiting Eastside Prep had survived with a riveting 1-0 victory Wednesday to become a player in the West Bay Athletic League boys soccer race.

The Panthers (3-2-3, 3-1-1 WBAL) did it with gumption and guile, an understatement considering they were outshot by the Knights 18-5. The match featured two first-year coaches — Menlo's Mark Arya and Eastside's Greg Jellin. Arya is a Homestead-Sunnyvale alum and a former standout player at Cal in the early 1080s. Jellin is a Capuchino-San Bruno grad.

"We had plenty of opportunities," Arya said. "We played with more passion and intensity in the second half. It took us the first 10 or 15 minutes to get it together."

"We played our hearts out," Jellin said. "We dug down deep. We did a better job of passing the ball this time."

It took a great athletic play by Panthers senior forward Javier Magana to score the match's only goal. Magana initially set up 8 yards outside the penalty box for a direct kick. Magana, however, rolled the ball right into Menlo's wall. The ball waffled around a bit before freshman Kevin Barragan funneled it to the corner. Therhard, low cross in front of the net. Sepulveda was there to finish in the 15th minute. It wasn't how the original set play was planned, but it worked out for the Panthers.

"I'm not a lefty, so I don't normally go over there," Magana said. "It was an awkward play, but Barragan got the ball out to me. We've been working on passing more, so I passed the ball. This win will be motivation for us for our next game."

"Magana made a great play," Sepulveda said. "I was just ready for his pass."

The Knights (5-4-1, 3-1-1 WBAL) came dangerously close to scoring on more than one occasion. Vikram Padval hit the right post in the 11th minute. Minutes later, Parker chipped a ball up for Dawson Williams, whose shot went right of goal. In the 40th minute, Vikram Padval took another run, his shot going left of goal. Moments later, his shot hit the top post. Ethan Leibovich's rebound shot was saved by

e was Magana, who dribbled to the inside of two Menlo defenders, then sent a n the most serious chance, Vikram Padval found himself ahead of the pack, then drilled a shot that was saved by Chavez in the 62nd minute. The deflected ball hit the top of the post, coming ever so close to heading into goal before rolling back into the field of play. Then, in the closing minutes, the Knights crashed on a free kick outside the box, but Chavez and the Panthers' defense held firm.