DOWNEY — Warren forward Alexis Delgado was causing El Rancho fits during Tuesday’s CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal with her runs, crosses and pace.

So it was only fitting that Delgado provide the finishing touches, rifling home a banger inside the left post in the 70th minute that finished off a 2-0 victory, sending the Bears (16-3-3) back to the semifinals for a second consecutive season.

Warren co-head coach Lilly Dussan said she’s going to miss her senior when it’s all over.

“I am,” Dussan said of Delgado, who she moved from central forward to winger during the match, and it made an immediate impact. “She deserved that goal today. All game they were man-marking her up top with two or three girls, so we decided to push her out on the wing because she wasn’t doing much for us up top. And as soon we put her on the wing, she had a ton of shots on goal.”

Delgado knew her opportunity would come.

“I knew if I kept pushing and had a good run, I would have a chance,” Delgado said. “As soon as it left my foot I knew it was in the back of the net.”

It was a tough loss for El Rancho (15-4-2), who has made lots of strides over the past few years. The Dons reached the Division 4 championship game in 2023 and several of the seniors from that team were part of this year’s squad that catipulted them to Division 2.

Dons coach Stephanie Galvan admits that Warren had their number on Tuesday, but also thought they played well enough to win, they just couldn’t finish chances.

El Rancho’s Emma Hernandez had a chance in the second minute after a good cut, but couldn’t get a clean shot off.

After the Bears’ Allison Bravo stepped forward and headed home a short cross in the ninth minute for a 1-0 lead, the Bears continued to dominate the run of play, but the Dons still nearly tied the score in the waning moments of the half.

El Rancho’s Dayanara Gonzalez appeared to tie the score in the 38th minute poking home Emma Hernandez’s initial shott. But Hernandez was ruled offside on the run leading to the goal.

“The first half we had three breakaways, we just couldn’t find the back of the net,” Galvan said. “It was a back-and-forth game, but great team (Warren), fast, good movement off the ball and with the ball. And second half they just ended up sealing the deal for us.

“For a program (El Rancho) that’s never been on the radar and now we’re here competing in the quarterfinals of Division 2, it’s amazing to see our escalation and it’s a bright season for sure.”

Warren will be home in Saturday’s semifinals against Mira Costa. After falling short last season, Dussan hopes second time’s the charm.

“We got a taste of it (semifinals) last year and we’re back,” Dussan said. “These girls deserve it, they worked hard and we’re going to get it this year, we’re coming.”

Delgado agreed.

“Last year we went in with high intensity and came up short,” Delgado said. “We learned from our past, so this time we’re going to get the win.”

TUESDAY’S SCORES

DIVISION 2

Warren 2, El Rancho 0

DIVISION 4

Beaumont at La Mirada, late

DIVISION 6

Whittier Christian 1, Channel Islands 0

DIVISION 7

Marshall 2, Riverside Prep 0

DIVISION 8

South El Monte 3, Loara 0