Live Oak recorded a convincing 2-0 win over visiting Hollister
Tuesday afternoon.
Live Oak recorded a convincing 2-0 win over visiting Hollister Tuesday afternoon.
Live Oak has four games left in the Tri-County Athletic League. The Acorns are on top of the league, but nothing is locked up yet.
“We knew that is was going to be tough from day one,” said Live Oak coach Tony Goble. “We have to finish the season. Nothing is guaranteed. We have been very good at taking one game at a time.”
Live Oak (12-1-4, 6-0 TCAL) has allowed just one goal in league and nine overall. Live Oak moved the ball around with its speed and created several good shot attempts against Hollister.
Hollister (6-3-1, 3-3 TCAL) is in a must-sin situation in order to get into the playoffs.
The Acorns were without sophomore Anthony Razouk, who is second on the team with five assist behind Hussein Abdullahi. Razouk tweaked his right ankle during the game against Gilroy, but he expects to be ready to play by Saturday.
Julian Barta, who received the call for Razouk, had a strong game at forward, scoring the Acorns’ second goal of the game by splitting two defenders and shooting a ball by Hollister goalie Jorge Medina, who was out of position.
“I went between two guys, went left then right and shot it with my right foot,” Barta said. “We wanted to come out strong to start, and we were able to pick it up in the second.”
“If you had 12 guys, he would be the 12th one,” said Goble on Barta. “He is a good player. We have some depth on our team.”
Sergio Avila, Live Oak’s leading scorer, put in a header off a corner for the first goal midway through the first half.
The Acorns train on the JV field when they have to play on a field like the one they played on when the teams met last in Hollister.
“We played the style of soccer that we our used to,” When we are on our field we have space. On the football fields, you can’t really use your speed and it takes away from the game.”
Live Oak will play next at North Salinas on Feb. 1. Gilroy tied 0-0 with North Salinas. And Live Oak and North Salinas were scoreless at the half before Live Oak pulled away in the second half.
