FULLERTON - It might not be the prettiest brand of soccer, this kick ball game that Fullerton has a tendency to play, but it has definitely turned the Indians into one of the toughest teams to beat in the Sunny Hills Soccer League.

Backed by a first-half goal from Luis Ramirez, Fullerton posted its fourth shuout of the summer, defeated defending CIF-SS champion Valencia, 1-0, in a pool play game on Tuesday.

"They are always good. Fullerton always puts together a good team in the summer and the regular season. They ran fast at us and we just couldn't get into our game," Valencia coach Barry Gardner. "We started off good, moving around and getting some opportunities."

Not too long after Ramirez put the Indians in front, Valencia's Thomas Marin fired a shot that was stopped by Fullerton's Dionney Reyes, who has been in goal for all four of the Indians' shutouts.

Before halftime Hugo Valadez sent a perfect cross to his Valencia teammate, Christian Lopez, whose header wrapped around the left post.

"We try to play a possession game and keep our shape," Gardner said, "but we are losing it. Fullerton is very fast defensively, and they hold their shape very well. The bent a little, but didn't break. When we get our opportunities, we've just got to put them away."

The Tigers had two good chances in the second half to even the score. The first came when Joes Gutierrez sent a line drive right at Reyes. Reyes came up with another save, though. Then later in the half, Valadez redirected a pass right in front of the goal, but it sailed over the crossbar.

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