The disdain and sarcasm dripped from Live Oak High girls soccer
coach Tony Vasquez
’ voiceas he talked about his team’s match against visiting
Hollister-San Benito on Tuesday. Despite the fact that the Acorn
girls had essentially wrapped up the Tri-County Athletic League
title by tying the Haybalers 0-0 earlier this week, barring a
complete collapse by his talented team, Vasqu
ez was anything but happy.
The disdain and sarcasm dripped from Live Oak High girls soccer coach Tony Vasquez’ voiceas he talked about his team’s match against visiting Hollister-San Benito on Tuesday. Despite the fact that the Acorn girls had essentially wrapped up the Tri-County Athletic League title by tying the Haybalers 0-0 earlier this week, barring a complete collapse by his talented team, Vasquez was anything but happy.
“Basically, this was for the league championship — (Hollister) had to win to (have any chance) to tie for the league championship — and they didn’t even try to score,” Vasquez said. “They were just happy we didn’t score.”
Such is life when you’re the defending league champions and only a single goal has been scored against you in league play so far. Your opponents’ goal changes from trying to win to trying not to lose.
Live Oak, which improved to 4-0-1 in league and 8-3-4 overall with the tie, had won four straight league matches heading into Tuesday’s action and beat the Balers 5-1 in the two teams’ league opener. Hollister improved to 4-1-1 in league with the tie and has established itself as the second-best team in the TCAL, just ahead of Salinas in the standings.
However, as Vasquez pointed out, Hollister had an opportunity to take over the league lead with a win and didn’t even try, a move that did not earn the Acorn coach’s respect.
“They always talk about how good their forwards (Jenny Maheu and Rose Vandenberg) are, so why didn’t they try to score?,” Vasquez said. “We had several (scoring) opportunities but it seriously was a boring game. It was a frustrating game.”
Vasquez singled out freshman midfielder Shawna McKeown for special praise against the Balers.
Vasquez also said his defense played as well as usual, though it had to deal with less pressure against a passive Baler offense and
Acorn goalkeeper Andrea Riolo only had to make one save the entire match.
But the Acorn coach acknowledged that his offense is in a slump and set a lofty goal for the unit for the remainder of TCAL play.
“Our goal for the next five games is to score five goals a game and I think we can do that,” Vasquez said.
Live Oak was scheduled to play at North Salinas Thursday, and at Gilroy on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in a game that was rained out on Saturday, Jan. 24.
