Rivals take what they can from scoreless tie
MORGAN HILL — A field hockey game can end in three ways, and Sobrato has now sampled two of those against Live Oak.
The Lady Bulldogs took a step toward the third and sweetest of all Friday, as the rival programs battled to a scoreless draw for the first time in history at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center.
“It definitely feels like a positive,” said Niki Donaldson, who has coached the Lady Bulldogs in each of their six seasons. “I can’t say when the first win will come, but this feels great. The girls earned it; they stayed in their and pushed them.”
The Lady Acorns (1-2-1), fresh off a tough overtime loss to ‘A’-leaguer Los Altos, controlled possession for most of the game but not crack Sobrato’s defense or goalkeeper Kristin Wallash.
Live Oak’s netminder Margaret Tanner touched the ball only three times in sharing the shutout.
“Our defense was good, and our offense was great but we couldn’t put things together,” Acorns coach Gina Sanders said. “I think 85 percent of the game was played on their side of the field. We lost our heads, I think.”
Sanders attributed that to both the rivalry and a tough call that went against Live Oak in the first half. The Acorns thought they had taken the lead when Ariana Guerrero smacked a long shot into the net. But the officials ruled she had taken her shot beyond 16 yards, thus negating the score.
“That bothered us a lot,” Sanders said. “We talked about how we needed to change and not let that call or the rivalry affect how we play. But they did.”
The Bulldogs (0-0-1) have three away games left before they host their West Valley Division opener against Branham on Sept. 30.
Live Oak begins Santa Teresa Division play at home this afternoon against Leland.
