SALINAS
– The Live Oak boys team was trailing the whole way against
Salinas on Tuesday until the fourth quarter when the Acorns were
able to pull out a 14-9 win.
SALINAS – The Live Oak boys team was trailing the whole way against Salinas on Tuesday until the fourth quarter when the Acorns were able to pull out a 14-9 win.
Ryan Gautschi led all scorers with seven goals in the victory, but he really came out strong in the second half as did the rest of the Acorn team. Justin Short, Corey Robinson and Devin Merchant each had two goals, and Mike Mitchell had one. Live Oak was down by two goals at the half and at one time was down by as much as four.
“In the first we played non-aggressive water polo, and they were able to dominate,” said coach Mack Haines. “The whole team was pretty unexistant in the first half. We stepped up the pressure defense at the half and were able to put the game away.”
Haines knew the game would be close against the much improved Salinas team, which is coached by two time Olympian Jerry Figuroa.
Live Oak’s inability to turn it up early has continually baffled Haines. And that is a tough thing to do against the 18-year Live Oak coach.
The Acorns have come back after being down or tied at the half to win about a third of their games so far this season. Haines has tried many different things to give the team more energy and spark early on, but so far he hasn’t found the right combination.
“I don’t know what the answer is,” Haines said. “I’ve changed the warmup routines. I have talked about what it takes to be mentally prepared to play, but we are still struggling on that. You don’t want to get yourself in that deep of a hole.”
Haines has toyed with the idea of starting Shea Coleman, who came in in the second quarter against Salinas, and having starter Jason Kim come off the bench – an idea that was actually suggested by Kim.
“Their play is very close,” Haines said. “They have different strengths. It has nothing to do with talent. Jason is still our No. 1 and has the steady leadership. Shea is more aggressive and louder and has a higher energy level.”
When injured Mark Ahlin returns to the lineup, he will give the Acorns another option either off the bench or as a starter, Haines said.
Live Oak (12-5, 3-0 TCAL) finished with a 2-2 record in the Palo Alto Tournament last weekend. The Acorns lost to Aragon by two points in the first game before winning the next two easily. In the final game, the Acorns lost in sudden death to Serra.
Live Oak will play a big matchup against Robert Luis Stevenson at home next Thursday in what could be a deciding league game. RLS, along with Salinas, will be contending with Live Oak for the TCAL title, and the race will come down to the wire.
“The days of us showing up in league and figuring out what score we win by are gone – maybe for good,” Haines said. “Salinas and RLS have strong teams with a lot of experience. We will have to play even better.”
