Acorns secure TCAL title with one game remaining at Gilroy
With Hollister just a game behind going into Friday’s last regular home game of the season, Tri-County Athletic League front runner Live Oak knew it would need a big game against Notre Dame – the third-place team.
The Acorns, who are ranked No. 12 in CCS, got the game they needed and more as they let the Spirits free with a 6-1 win. The win wraps up the Tri-County Athletic League title for the Acorns, who have one game to play in the regular season finale at Gilroy on Wednesday.
Live Oak will find out who it plays in the Central Coast Division 1 playoffs in the seeding meeting on Feb. 16.
“The girls really stepped up and came through when they had,” said Live Oak coach Tony Vasquez. “Once things got going, we were on a roll. Hopefully we can gain some momentum going into the playoffs. We’re peaking at the right time.”
Sophomore Michelle McDonald found five different ways to score goals. She started off her attack shortly before halftime.
The goal was setup by the hard work of Jamey Hickey along the left side as she worked the ball around a pair of defenders and crossed the ball to the center.
“We came out really pumped up for this game,” McDonald said. “I’ve kind of taken on the roll of being the the scorer on the team. I have some really awesome players around me.”
Live Oak scored just the one goal in the first half. But the flood gates opened in the second.
The Acorns didn’t have much time to discuss strategy during halftime as seniors Christina Adames, Stephanie Curtis, Gina Estrada, Ashley Garcia, Michelle Marroquin, Jennie Moton and Gina Sanders were honored in the last regular season home game.
“We started off shaky,” said Estrada, who is part of the group of defenders and midfielders which has given up just four goals in league. “But we picked it up in the second. We all kind of came together. Before the bench was just chillin’, then they got into it.”
Within the first two minutes of the second half, Live Oak had upped the score to 3-0. McDonald, on a pass from Adames (who had three assists), knocked in a one-timer from near midfield.
The Notre Dame goalie Jazmine Ohmann, almost in slow motion, made an attempt to get to the ball, but it rolled in to the far side just out of her reach.
Katie Rentiria came up with a steal at midfield and weaved her way back for a one-on-one with the goalie less than a minute later.
Although Notre Dame answered with a goal in about the 55th minute on a steal that Live Oak goal Garcia just got a hand on, Live Oak kept the pressure up and scored three more goals.
“We tried to move our sweeper up to create more speed,” said Saint coach Niel Smit. “Live Oak is disiplined in the backfield, and they play well together, but they don’t have a lot of speed. We had a lapse of concentration there in the second half. We were still in it down 3-1. But we had to push the numbers, and sometimes you are going to take risks in the back.”
Hickey, a freshman, took a couple hard hits in the game. She was taken down outside the box, and McDonald eventually capitalized for the fifth goal on good ball movement from Daniella King and Allison Mutz.
“It was a fun,” Hickey said. “I just try to get to the ball first. I try to run fast and then cut.”
McDonald finished the scoring by heading a ball that bounced out of the goalie’s hands into the net.
“It kind of surprised me,” McDonald said. “I normally don’t like to head it in. I normally shy away. I was just there.”
Live Oak finishes up its season at Gilroy on Wednesday. Last time the two teams met, Live Oak won 8-0 with five goals by McDonald.
