No. 9 Gunn needed just one half and a key take down to defeat
No. 8 Live Oak Saturday at Salinas High. Gunn moves on to face No.
3 Overfelt in the Central Coast Section semifinals.
No. 9 Gunn needed just one half and a key take down to defeat No. 8 Live Oak Saturday at Salinas High.
Gunn moves on to face No. 3 Overfelt in the Central Coast Section semifinals.
The Acorns got on the board first. Defender Kris Mott kicked in a long ball from deep in the backfield, and Hussan Abdullahi was there to head it in five minutes into the game.
But Salinas answered back on a free kick in the 14th minute by Bobby Bateman.
Right from the start of the game, the Acorns were without leading scorer Sergio Avila, who went down on a slide tackle by Alekos Theologis. Neither Theologis, who was carded for his efforts, nor Avila were able to come back. Avila took some medicine to try to ease some of the pain just above his right ankle in the front part of his leg.
“He definitely deserved the yellow card, said Gunn coach Simon Weffer.
The Titans scored two more goals 32 minutes and 39 minutes in. Both were scored by Adam Guzinski.
On the third goal, Live Oak goalie Nick Rauschnott came out to his left. But Gunn made a great save and worked the ball around for the goal. Rauschnott claimed they were out of bounds at the baseline when the Titans got to the ball.
“We knew that they were going to be very strong on the flank,” said Gunn coach Simon Weffer. “We knew that they would be kind of small in the back, and we knew we could get over the top. We didn’t really think it would be off set pieces. I am not going to complain on three set goals.”
The Acorns were forced to go to three forwards in the second half, but were unable to generate any goals.
Live Oak, which claimed the Tri-County Athletic League title finished up its season with a 16-2-5 record.
“I heard a lot of great things about Live Oak,” Weffer said. “We knew it was going to be tough. They kept at and didn’t give up. They were a class act, and it was a pleasure to play against them.”
