It wasn
’t exactly the section playoffs but that didn’t mean Saturday’s
victory over Division I power Gunn didn’t feel great for the Live
Oak High boys soccer team.
It wasn’t exactly the section playoffs but that didn’t mean Saturday’s victory over Division I power Gunn didn’t feel great for the Live Oak High boys soccer team.
Last season, the Titans edged the Acorns in the quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section playoffs and went on to win the section title.
On Saturday, Live Oak (6-3 overall) returned the favor in the quarterfinals of the Homestead Cup by beating preseason favorite Gunn 1-0.
The victory advanced the Acorns into the Cup semifinals, where they were scheduled to take on the Monterey Bay Area’s top-ranked team — Watsonville — on Monday.
A win against the highly touted Wildcatz would vault Live Oak into the Cup finals against either Gilroy or Leland on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Homestead High.
Even with a loss, the Acorns would have qualified for Tuesday’s consolation finals at noon at Homestead High.
Against Gunn on Saturday, Live Oak turned in its best performance of the season so far, according to Coach Tony Goble.
“That was the best we’ve played all year,” Goble said. “This was a game we weren’t supposed to win and it was an emotional, big win for us.”
Live Oak had several shots on goal in the game but didn’t get the go-ahead goal until late in the game on a penalty kick by sophomore Anthony Avalos.
Just getting to the final four against three undefeated teams was an accomplishment for the Acorns, who have begun playing better team soccer in recent games, according to Goble.
“That was our ninth different line-up (against Gunn),” Goble said.
On Thursday, the Acorns put it all together and routed visiting Seaside 4-0.
Scoring goals for Live Oak were senior Ryan Alexander and junior Orlando Lucero, who tallied two scores.
Junior Hussein Abdulahi had two assists for the Acorns.
Live Oak is now ranked No. 4 in the Monterey Bay Area.
