No quit in Lady Bulldogs after 5-0 loss to Leland
MORGAN HILL — Even as his team slipped to 0-7-3 overall and 0-4-1 in league play, Sobrato coach Paul Nishimatsu said the Lady Bulldogs have plenty of fight left in them.
The problem hasn’t been the challenging level of competition in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton Division, Nishimatsu said, but the simple fact his girls soccer team isn’t living up to it.
“I knew it was going to be this level of play. It’s just that we’re not raising our level to where it should be,” Nishimatsu said after a 5-0 loss to Leland on Wednesday. “It’s obvious that there’s certain things we’ve been trying to work on, and it’s not quite clicking.”
A fourth consecutive defeat did not break the spirit of the squad that won back-to-back division championships over the past two seasons. The Sobrato bench was still cheering on the starters late in the second half Wednesday, not letting the Chargers’ four-goal second half damper the mood in the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center.
“We still have a long way to go, two more games until the halfway point,” Bulldogs defenseman Lindsay Van Keulen said. “So we’re going to keep working and, hopefully, correct all the mistakes we’re making.
“I think we can play with the teams in this division. There’s games where teams aren’t amazing. They’re good, but I think we can play with them. We just need to find our groove. Once we do, we’re going to be really good.”
The healthy return of center-midfielder Janelle Cisneros this week won’t hurt. Cisneros, who missed the first 10 games with a knee injury, will add a much-needed scoring threat for the Bulldogs, who have not netted a goal since tying Piedmont Hills 1-1 Dec. 12.
Van Keulen was credited with Sobrato’s only shot against Leland (7-2-3 overall, 3-0-1).
“It’s hard right now,” Bulldogs senior Maureen King said. “We have to figure out something that isn’t there yet. We lost both of our best forwards. We’re happy to get Janelle back.”
Leland’s first goal came in the sixth minute, when Maggie Nguyen nudged in a cross from Olivia Mangin. Sobrato goalkeeper Maggie Cropp made six of her 11 saves in the first half, holding the Charger’s lead to 1-0 at the break. But Leland tripled its edge in the first 16 minutes of the second half with goals by Christina Farrington (49th minute), Jessica Man (52nd) and Jocelyn Martinez (56th).
Andrea Buckley scored the final goal on a penalty kick in the 77th minute.
“Leland is one of the corunners in our division with Leigh,” Nishimatsu said. “I think they’re one of the top teams. We didn’t give up against them. We’re not quitting. That’s our thing right now.”
Another rout for Acorns
The Live Oak girl’s soccer team is making a habit of not just winning, but winning big.
The Lady Acorns won their third straight BVAL-Santa Teresa Division contest Friday, beating Lincoln 5-1. Amanda Whitling scored twice, and Megan Rauschnot, Kirsten Doting and Kourtney Kientzy once for Live Oak, which improved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in league. The Acorns also got a pair of assists from Fabiola Diaz and Rauschnot, plus a scoreless half from goalkeeper Gladis Covarrubias.
The Lions fell to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the division. Live Oak, which also beat Oak Grove 7-1 last week, travels to Willow Glen for a 3:15 p.m. game Wednesday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
SHS falls to 0-2
Sobrato can add Prospect to the list of teams to look out for during the second half of league play.
Two days after losing their BVAL-Mount Hamilton Division opener versus Santa Teresa, the Lady Bulldogs dropped a 68-48 decision to the Panthers on Friday.
Sobrato (8-5 overall, 0-2 BVAL) received a game-high 22 points from Courtney Sedlak and eight points apiece from Priyanka Kumar and Sarina Santiago. Kumar also had nine rebounds, and Sedlak two assists.
The Bulldogs host Westmont at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
LO drops nail-biter
Think the Live Oak boy’s basketball had a tough week? The Lady Acorns dropped their first two league games by a combined three points.
Live Oak followed a 35-33 defeat to Overfelt with a 36-35 loss to Lincoln on Friday.
Against the Lions (4-6 overall, 2-0 BVAL West Valley Division), Jacey Turay and Ariana Guerrero tied led the Acorns with eight points apiece. Teammate Niki Patel added six points on 3-of-5 shooting. Live Oak, which plays Independence on the road at 7:30 p.m. today, fell to 0-11 overall and 0-2 in league.
“The girls are pretty resilient to keep battling the way they are,” Acorns coach Jeff Perkins said. “They bounce back, and they’re getting behind each other. We should be 2-0. I told them we’re probably the best 0-11 team on the planet.”
BOYS BASKETBALL
Bulldogs make it a dozen
Statistics weren’t available by press time Monday, but the Sobrato Bulldogs claimed their 12 victory Friday, beating the Del Mar Dons 72-62 at home.
Sobrato (12-2 overall), which hosts Mount Pleasant at 7:30 p.m. today, remained perfect in BVAL-Santa Teresa Division play at 2-0. The Dons fell to 8-8 overall and 1-1 in league.
