Mixture of intensity and fun a recipe for success for
Bulldogs
Mixture of intensity and fun a recipe for success for Bulldogs
MORGAN HILL
The Sobrato boys soccer team is on a roll.
The Bulldogs shut out Blossom Valley Athletic League opponent Pioneer 2-0 Friday after beating the Yerba Buena Warriors Wednesday 3-2.
Sobrato’s two wins bring the team’s league season record to 2-0-1.
Bulldogs junior forward Thomas Torres scored in the fifth minute off of an assist from senior midfielder Victor Iracheta, 17, during Wednesday’s game.
The Bulldogs enjoyed a 1-0 half-time lead at Yerba Buena, and in the first minute of the second half Iracheta scored on an assist from sophomore Dylan Serrano.
The Warriors fought their way back into the game, scoring two second-half goals, but a third and final Sobrato goal in the 20th minute from sophomore Cullen Herrington put the game away.
“It felt good to give Yerba Buena their first loss,” Sobrato coach Ricardo Martinez said.
On Friday, building on the momentum from Wednesday’s win, the Bulldogs shut-out the Pioneer Mustangs 2-0 at home.
Once again, Iracheta stepped up for the Bulldogs scoring early in the first half giving the Bulldogs some breathing room.
Playing strong defense, anchored by senior goal keeper Eugene Richardson, the Bulldogs kept the Mustangs from scoring and again enjoyed a 1-0 half-time advantage.
Offensive aggression in the second half led to multiple shots on goal for the Bulldogs, but the Mustangs’ goalie held his own and blocked all but one of them.
After receiving a short pass from Iracheta, sophomore midfielder Jovani Franco kicked a bullet, from about 35 yards out, right over the goal keeper’s head.
Iracheta, the team captain and vocal leader on the field, said this game was big for the team.
“We’re coming off a strong win against Yerba Buena, and it’s nice to get two in a row,” he said.
In his 12th year playing organized soccer, Iracheta said his team should have taken better advantage of open looks.
“We had a lot of open shots, but we just didn’t put them in,” he said. “We just have to come out strong and stay strong, and not let down in the last 20 minutes.”
Iracheta and his teammates arrive to practice on time everyday, even for their 6-8 a.m. weekday workouts, but they also get together for breakfast before Saturday games.
“Everyone out here is keeping it serious on the field and in practice, but we know when we can have some fun too,” he said.
To continue down the road to victory, Iracheta said the Bulldogs must continue playing as a team, but also must step up the intensity.
“Hopefully we go to CCS again,” Iracheta said. “But we can’t be overconfident in any matchup.”
The Bulldogs lost in the first round of the Central Coast Section last year, and returning players like Iracheta hope to go further this year.
Martinez described Iracheta and junior defender/forward Mario Vargas-Contreras as two team leaders.
“They both take their leadership roles very seriously,” Martinez said. “Plus I can put them anywhere on the field because they are just good all-around players.”
After Friday’s win Iracheta led the team in a post-game cool down run and stretching.
“They all get along very well, and there are no attitudes,” Martinez said. “Since I came to this school four years ago, all of my teams have had positive, hardworking kids, and I try to keep that going in the program.”
