Local teams play first division matches Tuesday
MORGAN HILL — Before the season, Live Oak girls soccer coach Tony Vasquez said his team’s goal was place in the top four in the Mount Hamilton Division, thus making the cut for sectionals.
But, after watching the Lady Acorns complete a 2-1-3 nonleague finish with a one-goal loss against Division II power St. Francis, Vasquez has upped his ante.
“The way we’re playing, I told the girls, ‘Let’s go out and try to win this thing,’ ” Vasquez said Monday. “One of our goals is to get into CCS. Our other one now is to win league.”
To do so would be unprecedented. The Blossom Valley Athletic League ‘A’ conference includes three Central Coast Section semifinalists from a year ago — Willow Glen, Leigh, Leland — and, as usual, is loaded from top to bottom.
But the Acorns have plenty of reason to ask, “Why not us?” Live Oak has created scoring opportunities with ease, averaging 1.7 goals a game, and is just as strong defensively behind the precocious backline play of freshman Syd Barker, sophomores Sam Riolo and Kirsten Doting and junior Kayla Cisneroz.
Amanda Morgan’s first-half goal Saturday at San Francisco High gave Live Oak a 1-0 lead over the team that won the Division I championship in 2008.
“St. Francis was a good test for them,” said Vasquez, whose team begins Mount Hamilton play at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday against visiting Branham (3-3). “We could have tied it in the second half. The game could have gone either way.
“Our confidence is really good right now.”
The Sobrato Lady Bulldogs have no reason to lower their goal of winning a second Santa Teresa Division title in three years.
Paul Nishimatsu’s club went 2-1-2 in nonleague matches, including a 1-1-2 mark against ‘A’-league teams. Junior Jennae Cambra has highlighted her return to action with a team-best 15 points — seven goals, one assist — and the Bulldogs’ backline, led by Rachel Bakin and Kate Van Keulen, has taken the heat off of standout goalkeeper Maggie Cropp.
“Having Jennae back has been a big part of our success. She’s going to have a great year,” Nishimatsu said. “Our defense has been the biggest surprise. … We’ve done an excellent job defending.”
A 19-day break from competition was the last thing Sobrato needed, though the Bulldogs made the most of their time off. They remained in tune for Tuesday’s 3:15 p.m. league opener against Lincoln in the Outdoor Sports Center.
“The girls put their time in, just working on sets and tactical aspects of the game,” Nishimatsu said. “It’s a matter of them getting back into the swing of things once they take the field. They’re excited to get back out there.”
