Sobrato team comes together to win three in a row; closing out
TCAL play strong
Morgan Hill – Heading into their rematch against the Live Oak Acorns today, the Sobrato Bulldogs girls soccer team currently has a three-game winning streak under their belts.
On Saturday in the light, cold rain in Salinas, the Lady Bulldogs (6-9-1, 4-6 TCAL) shutout the Notre Dame Spirits (6-9-1, 4-6 TCAL), 1-0. It was Sobrato’s second shutout in two games.
“I think everyone, both teams, were kind of sluggish in the first half. It was a slow game,” said Bulldogs coach Susan Scigliano. “We finally started picking things up at the end of the first half. Defense has been the key and our defense is really coming together in the past few games.”
The Bulldogs and Spirits battled through most of the game locked in a scoreless tie.
With 15 minutes remaining in the second half, Sobrato’s Cecily Nishimatsu broke the tie by firing a penalty kick into the corner of the Spirits’ net. The Bulldogs were awarded the penalty kick after one of the Notre Dame defenders took down forward Ashley Grose in the box.
Nishimatsu leads the team with seven assists and her goal against the Spirits was her fourth of the season.
Sobrato goalkeeper Katrina Olson recorded her second shutout of the season and made a spectacular stop in goal late in the game to prevent a Spirits’ score. Olson made a save that rebounded to a Notre Dame forward. Olson bounced back up and forced the shooter to the outside, causing the shot to go wide as well.
“She’s so quick to react. She’s not going to let them score on her,” said Scigliano.
This afternoon at 3:30pm, the Bulldogs host the Live Oak Acorns (4-5-6, 3-3-4 TCAL), who have lost two and tied two in their last four TCAL matchups.
“I’m sure it’s going to be another hard-fought game. The girls are going to play hard, like they always do,” said Scigliano. “I feel we’re well-prepared. We’ve been reviewing film of the last time we played them (Live Oak). Hopefully we’ll have another great defensive game.”
“It’s the rivalry game,” laughed Scigliano. “They played us really tough the last time. Hopefully we’ll make it a tough game for them as well.”
On Thursday, the Bulldogs wrap up TCAL play against the Gilroy Mustangs (7-6-4, 6-2-2 TCAL) in Gilroy at 5:30pm.
