San Benito’s late comeback not enough in 4-3 loss
San Benito’s late comeback not enough in 4-3 loss
Morgan Hill
The Live Oak Acorns girls’ soccer team defeated the San Benito ‘Balers 4-3 Wednesday with an impressive and continuous offensive onslaught, recording their first win of the season.
It was San Benito’s (2-1) first loss of the season, however, as the Lady ‘Balers couldn’t mount a comeback after falling behind 4-1.
Nevertheless, San Benito coach Mike Schurig was proud of the overall effort his team put forth.
“We made a nice comeback,” Schurig said. “We held them scoreless for the first 24 minutes, playing defensively and trying to figure things out, but then we opened things up and they took advantage of that.”
The Acorns came out kicking, getting ten first half shots on goal, netting three of them.
Live Oak senior Robin Nelson scored the first goal of the game on a breakaway midway through the first half, while sophomore Fabiola Diaz scored the second goal with a header off of a deep pass from junior Amanda Whitling to extend their lead, 2-0.
San Benito mid-fielder J.C. Clayton consistently worked the ball down the field for the Haybalers, eventually setting up sophomore forward Sophie Coelho who scored on a high kick from the right side into the left corner, cutting Live Oak’s lead in half.
Live Oak added another in the second half when Whitling knocked in a goal off a pass from Diaz, making the deficit 4-1.
But senior Janessa Gillies took a shot from the right sideline to keep the all in bounds, and the ball bounced right in front of Live Oak goalkeeper Selena Braun, and then snuck nicely between her hands and the right post.
Down 4-2 the Lady ‘Balers pounced once again after the Acorns’ Sarah Locarnini received a yellow card for a hard foul. San Benito’s Samantha Moreno then scored from inside the box after collecting her own rebound, cutting the Acorns lead to one.
While seeming a bit fatigued, the Acorns found energy from junior defender Julia Hartl who continually cleared balls down the field and Live Oak would eventually hold on for a narrow one-goal win.
“They’re looking better,” Live Oak coach Tony Vasquez said. “We had a couple breakdowns and few late mistakes, but we dominated.”
The Acorns (1-0-2) have only won eight games over the last two seasons, so Vasquez is happy with how the 2007-08 season is starting.
“We got some new girls, and the girls who play club ball all year round are helping to settle the team down,” he said. “It takes a while for some of the girls who play other sports to get a feel for the game and find their touch, but we’re getting there.”
After tying for the Tri-County Athletic League championship with Gilroy last year, Schurig said this year’s ‘Balers team is determined to repeat their success, but on their own this time.
“I’m happy with what I saw, although we still have some things to work on,” he said. “We got some youth and some seasonality (sic), and they are starting to gel. Our goal is to win league outright.”
n BOYS
Despite losing a close game to Cupertino’s Homestead Mustangs 2-1 Tuesday, the young Live Oak Acorn varsity boys soccer team is making some early season strides.
While Live Oak horribly lost to Santa Clara High School on Nov. 20, on Tuesday the Acorns showed improvement, holding the Mustangs to only two-second half goals.
In the first half both teams displayed hustle and speed on defense, keeping the game locked up 0-0.
“Like I told our guys, we played a solid 75 out of 80 minutes,” Live Oak head coach Tony Goble said.
Homestead’s first goal came on a penalty kick early in the second half.
The Mustangs kicked the ball toward the net on a corner kick opportunity, but as the ball came down in the Mustangs box a Live Oak player was called for a hand ball penalty.
The Mustangs scored the penalty kick.
Within minutes they scored another goal pushing their lead to 2-0.
“After that first goal the guys were a little taken by surprise, and I think (Homestead) used that to their advantage,” Goble said. “We played tough in the first half, but they played better than us in the second.”
The Acorns only goal came on a corner kick, when Homestead defenders mishandled the ball and accidentally kicked it into their own goal.
Live Oak senior Matthew Altamirano kicked the ball into play near the left side of the Mustangs goal, and as a Homestead defender tried to collect the ball, he accidentally bumped it into his own net, giving the Acorns their first and only goal.
The Mustangs and Acorns traded kicks, and a few yellow cards, but the ball hung around mid-field for much of the game and the Acorns were unable to net any points on their own.
The Acorns are comprised of four seniors, seven juniors, one sophomore, and seven freshmen.
And with five of those seven freshmen in the starting lineup, an 0-2 start isn’t discouraging for Goble.
“We were able to hold our own out there, and I’m proud of the way the senior leaders picked it up,” he said. “We’re a very young team. I had six freshman on the field at one time … I’m excited about this group.”
