With the possibility of suspension of two of its best players
looming, the Live Oak High boys soccer team ignored the potential
disaster long enough to win its first two Tri-County Athletic
League matches this week. On Wednesday, LO routed host Salinas 8-0
at The Pit, then beat visiting Palma 4-0 at Live Oak High on Friday
just after learning that juniors Garrett Frechette and Anthony
Avalos would not be suspended for playing with a club team over
Christmas break in violation of Central Coast Section rules.
With the possibility of suspension of two of its best players looming, the Live Oak High boys soccer team ignored the potential disaster long enough to win its first two Tri-County Athletic League matches this week.
On Wednesday, LO routed host Salinas 8-0 at The Pit, then beat visiting Palma 4-0 at Live Oak High on Friday just after learning that juniors Garrett Frechette and Anthony Avalos would not be suspended for playing with a club team over Christmas break in violation of Central Coast Section rules.
“Its a load off,” LO coach Tony Goble said. “Now we can focus (on the rest of the season). I’ve been trying to get the kids focused.”
Frechette and Avalos were among a group of area club players who traveled to Florida to compete in a tournament over Christmas break. It turns out that was in direct violation of Central Coast Section rules, according to CCS officials.
At issue was whether the area players could play in the Florida tournament because it was an Olympic Development Program-sanctioned event. CCS rules state that players may not play for club teams during the high school season, but may play for ODP teams.
According to Goble, the confusion centered around the CCS Web site, which seemed to indicate that the Florida tourney was okay because it was ODP sanctioned.
In fact, one of the local pair’s teammates on the club team was initially suspended for six matches for playing in the tournament, and the rest were placed on a list pending possible action.
However, due to the confusion over the rules, the first player’s suspension was rescinded and none of the rest – including Frechette and Avalos – were punished.
Goble said CIF state officials are considering a ban on all extracurricular play during the high school season to eliminate any confusion.
In last week’s action, Frechette and Avalos both played major roles in the Acorns’ victories.
Against Salinas, Frechette tallied a pair of goals in the win, while Avalos scored twice in the victory over Palma.
Also against the Cowboys, Hassan Abdullahi and Robert Adam both had two goals, while Anthony Razouk and Casey Mott added a goal each.
In the win over the Chieftains, Frechette and Matt Altamirano both added single goals.
The Acorn boys improved to 9-0-4 overall (2-0 in TCAL) with the victories.
Next week, LO plays at Gilroy and Hollister-San Benito on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
Meanwhile, the LO girls soccer team got back on track after a tough non-league slate to win its first two TCAL con tests.
On Tuesday, the Acorns edged Salinas 1-0 at The Pit on a goal by senior standout Michelle McDonald.
According to LO coach Tony Vasquez, his team was held back by a combination of factors.
“We didn’t play particularly well and a little bit of it had to do with (The Pit’s artificial turf),” Vasquez said. “(The field’s) narrow and (Salinas) came out fired up and physical. They took us out of our game.”
Not so against Notre Dame-Salinas on Thursday.
Playing on a larger field, the Acorns ran the Spirits off their feet en route to a 7-1 rout.
McDonald had a huge match, tallying two goals and three assists in the runaway victory.
LO opened the scoring on a goal by Jamie Hickey with an assist by Sarah Whitling
Then McDonald took over. First, she set up Lena Marsh and Katie Renteria for goals.
Then, she added a goal of her own, followed that up with an assist on a goal by Jenny Emick, and capped it off with another goal.
Vasquez said the speedy McDonald has recovered from an ankle injury suffered earlier this season and is ready for a break-out league season.
Cassie Neilson knocked in the Acorns’ last goal with an assist from Renteria.
LO (3-6-2 overall, 2-0 in TCAL) struggled through a non=-league schedule that saw the Acorns forced to forfeit three matches due to an ineligible player.
Next week, the Acorns play their TCAL home opener on Wednesday against Gilroy at 5pm, a match set to be played under the lights on the Richert Stadium football field.
