If a tie is like kissing your sister, there was little doubt who
was closer to their siblings after the Live Oak High boys soccer
team ended up in a 0-0 tie with visiting Hollister-San Benito in
both teams
’ league opener on Friday.
If a tie is like kissing your sister, there was little doubt who was closer to their siblings after the Live Oak High boys soccer team ended up in a 0-0 tie with visiting Hollister-San Benito in both teams’ league opener on Friday.
While the Acorns disconsolately hung their heads, the Balers applauded the result.
Live Oak coach Tony Goble left little doubt how he felt about the tie to begin his team’s quest for another Tri-County Ath-letic League title, esp-ecially because the Acorns controlled the ball for most of the game and had numerous shots on goal.
“That’s been our downfall all year — not putting the ball in the goal,” Goble said. “We dominated the game. Defensively, we played well and we controlled the game. But if you don’t put the ball in the goal it doesn’t matter.”
Conversely, Baler coach Mike Warner was more than fine with the tie, coming as it did against the clearly favored Acorns on their home field.
“We have to be happy but we came in to win,” Warner said. “(Live Oak) is an absolutely top-flight team. But the (Hollister) kids never lost confidence. No matter how tough it got we maintained our composure.”
Warner said he put in “a new scheme” a few days before the game, and Goble was sure he knew what it was.
“They were playing for the tie,” he said. “They packed the back with six guys. At halftime, (Hollister) was clapping. (Warner) tried to use (the scoreless tie) as motivation at halftime.”
Live Oak kept the ball in the Hollister end of the field for most of the game, save one 15-minute stretch near the beginning of the second half.
The Acorns started strong, creating several early scoring chances including a header by Anthony Razouk that sailed just high, while the Balers barely managed a single shot on goal in the first half.
Hollister got a burst of energy in the second half and created a few chances.
But Live Oak again put on the pressure as the second half wore on, and put together a determined rally in the match’s closing minutes that included several near misses.
“We had cracks at the goal,” Goble said. “But sometimes I feel like we (coaches) want it more than (the players) do. Maybe that’s a result of a lack of leadership — we’re a young team.”
Goble said the tie sets the Acorns back a little, especially because it comes against one of the league’s middle-of-the-pack teams.
“It’s not a loss but I told the guys the rest of the league is going to be that tough or tougher,” Goble said. “That’s why we have to have these wins. For (Hollister), it’s a confidence-builder going into Gilroy. For us, going into North Salinas, it’s almost a must-win.”
Live Oak (0-0-1 in league, 7-5-1 overall) plays at North Salinas Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
