Acorns improve to 8-1-4 overall and 2-0 in the league
The Live Oak boys soccer team won its first two league games this week, defeating Hollister 3-1 in a makeup game at Hollister and defeating North Salinas 4-0 Wednesday at Live Oak.
Live Oak, who is ranked No. 9 in CCS, had numerous attempts against North Salinas, but it wasn’t until the second half that Live Oak was able to put it away with four goals.
“We dominated the half, but anytime it’s 0-0, they’re in the game,” said Live Oak coach Tony Goble. “They had one good opportunity in the first, and we had about 10 chances.”
The Vikings’ goalie Eliu Aguirre, who stopped several point-blank shots on goal, received a yellow card for comments he made 65 minutes into the match. In high school soccer, the player has to sit out until the next opportunity to come in.
Francisco Arivizu came in to replace the goalie. Arivizu, who came out a couple times to challenge shots, gave up a goal a minute later to Cesar Cerrano.
Arivizu challenged the shot on the top of the key and got a hand on it, but it still trickled into the goal. Then the floodgates opened for the Acorns even with Aguirre back in goal.
Live Oak sophomore Hussein Abdullahi scored on a kick from Serrano, who was taken down by Edgar Garcia. Alban Diaz scored the Acorns’ third goal on a little shuffle in front of the net. Trevor Kozacek put in the final goal in the last minute after the goalie had started to losen his gloves.
In the game against the Balers, the Acorns got on the board quickly in under two minutes. Before San Benito even had a chance to finish warming up, Live Oak was ahead 1-0.
On a throw-in, Andrew Cunninham launched a ball about 40 yards from the right sideline all the way past and in front of Baler goalie Jorge Medina. Senior Sergio Avila, who leads the Acorns in scoring, quickly dove getting his on the ball to knock it in.
“They outplayed us in the first half even though they had the 1-0 lead,” Goble said. “Part of our problem has been finishing. To put three goals against a good team says something.”
Avila kept the pressure on up front and had several challenges with the goalie.
“We had to pick it up,” said Avila. “We weren’t playing physical enough. The younger guys need to learn to be more physical.”
Michael Warner, the Baler coach, had to do some last-minute scrambling to get his players together for the 3:30 p.m. game at Andy Hardin Field after originally being told it was at 5:30 p.m.
“They just came out kind of flat,” said Warner, who was missing two players. “Mentally it was kind of tough on the players.”
The short notice took away the normal practice routines. The Balers, who have a strong bench, were forced to substitute frequently as Baler players starting sporadically dropping with cramps.
It looked as if the quick first goal would hold up and be all Live Oak needed to defeat the Balers, who are 3-2-1 and 0-2 TCAL after Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Gilroy.
But the Balers were able to tie up the score in the 60th minute of play as John Hansen, who arrived at halftime, knocked in a goal on a pass by Brian Vargas.
“We felt they were week on both sides,” Warner said. “We felt we could run the sides then cross it and get some distance and pull them off. That is what happened on the goal.”
The momentum was short lived as Live Oak answered right back with a goal by sophomore Anthony Razouk. Rouzouk sent a left-footed shot toward the goal. It bounced off Baler defender defender Alfredo Arredondo and by Medina.
“I was surprised it went in,” Razouk said. “I wasn’t trying to power it in. I was just trying to place it in the corner. It turned the momentum around after they scored.”
Six minutes later, Hussein Abdullahi made a run around the left side and was tripped up by a Hollister defender. Cesar Serrano, who was using his speed all game to frustrate the Balers in the middle, knocked the penalty kick to the Medina’s right for the 3-1 score.
The game featured physical play by both the Acorns and the Balers.
“If you have a little speed and you are physical, you can compete with anybody in high school,” Goble said. “We are always trying to play physical, but we have a pretty skilled team as well. We have a fit team. When you come out to a football field, it presses you in and you can’t utilize your speed. Our field is about 15 yards wider.”
Hussan Abdullahi moved up to the middle field after starting at sweeper because of an injury to Kris Mott.
“I like working with them,” Abdullahi said. “There is a lot of chemistry. It is a lot easier at sweeper – you mess up and it’s a goal.”
Defender Andy Cunninham was another player the Acorns were missing, but now the team is pretty much at full health, Goble said.
Live Oak will play at Salinas today and against Palma on Monday.
“Traditionally they’re not the more skilled teams,” Goble said. “But they are tough physically, pounding lose balls and going after you.”
The Live Oak JV team tied the Balers 3-3.
