Westmont wins 1-0
MORGAN HILL — After a 1-0 loss to Westmont in which his team surrendered a controversial goal that was setup by an official’s errant call, Live Oak coach Tony Goble eased the pain by taking a page from Walter Cronkite.
“That’s the way it is,” Goble said Thursday after the Blossom Valley Athletic League-Santa Teresa Division game at Live Oak High School. “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Adrian Rodriguez scored the lone goal early in the second half after fielding a free kick that was originally awarded to the Acorns (4-3-2 overall, 3-2-1 BVAL). After blowing his whistle, a referee mistakenly pointed in Live Oak’s direction. Realizing his error, though, he pointed the other way. Meanwhile, Rodriguez was sprinting downfield, unmarked by the out-of-place defenders. Robby Zizak of Westmont (3-5-4, 3-1-2) sent the free kick to Rodriguez, who knocked the ball in.
Controversy swelled as several fans said the ball did not cross the goal line before Acorns keeper Eric Saavedra nabbed it.
“I told our guys, we didn’t lose because of this and that. I’ll never blame a ref,” Goble added. “We didn’t score. We got outhustled. We got outplayed by a team we’re as good or better than. And (Westmont) wanted the game more.”
The Warriors have won three straight after starting the season 0-5-4. They knocked Live Oak out of a four-way tie for first place in the division.
“Losing today was definitely significant,” Acorns senior Matt Morgan said. “Winning would have been great. But we just didn’t get it.”
Morgan spearheaded a desperate attack in the final 20 minutes, when Live Oak took five shots. After Goble moved the team’s emotional leader, Nick Ellis, to forward, the Acorns looked primed to net the equalizer.
Dylan Frechette one-timed a cross from Cesar Lustre that was deflected. Lustre took a 15-yard shot that went over the net. Ellis blasted the ball wide right from 13 yards out. Jesse Hernandez banked a Lustre pass off his chest that was cleared from the goal box. And Lustre headed a Juan Baca corner kick that was saved.
“Putting Nick up there really motivated us,” Morgan said. “He’s really good at getting the ball down there and he creates opportunities. Things change when he’s on offense.”
Goble might make the change permanent.
“We have another kid that can roll in the back,” Goble said. “Nick just brings that fire we need.
“If something doesn’t change offensively, it’s tough to go anywhere in this league. You have to score goals, especially against teams you can beat.”
banked a Lustre pass off his chest that was cleared from the goal box. And Lustre headed a Juan Baca corner kick that was saved.
“Putting Nick up there really motivated us,” Morgan said. “He’s really good at getting the ball down there and he creates opportunities. Things change when he’s on offense.”
Goble might make the change permanent.
“We have another kid that can roll in the back,” Goble said. “Nick just brings that fire we need.
“If something doesn’t change offensively, it’s tough to go anywhere in this league. You have to score goals, especially against teams you can beat.”
Live Oak hosts Yerba Buena this afternoon.
‘Dogs back in front
How’s this for a recovery? Sobrato bounced back from its first loss in league play with a 6-0 thrashing against Pioneer on Thursday.
And with that, the Bulldogs once again control their own destiny in the Blossom Valley Athletic league-Santa Teresa Division standings. They will travel to Willow Glen on Tuesday in a battle for first place.
Sobrato (7-3-2 overall, 4-1-1 BVAL) blew past winless Pioneer (0-10, 0-7), getting a hat trick and an assist from senior forward Thomas Torres. Dylan Serrano, Cullen Herrington and Jovani Franco chipped in goals, and Arturo Ceja had two assists. Oscar Fernandez and Miles Mammen were credited with an assist apiece.
Bulldogs goalkeeper Simon Schmidt earned a shutout with four saves.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pioneer downs LO
Pioneer showcased its first-place mettle Thursday against Live Oak.
The Mustangs (9-4 overall, 4-0 BVAL-West Valley Division) sent the Lady Acorns back to Morgan Hill with a 52-32 loss, dropping Live Oak (0-4 BVAL) to 0-13 overall.
The Acorns got 11 and 10 points from Sarah Mesa and Niki Patel, respectively, plus six from Danielle Dukes. Patel shot 5 for 9 from the field.
Live Oak travels to San Jose on Tuesday to play James Lick at 7 p.m.
Cougars nip SHS
Evergreen Valley halted a potential win streak for Sobrato on Friday, handing the Lady Bulldogs a 75-53 loss in Sobrato Gym.
The Cougars trailed 20-13 at the end of the first quarter before dropping 27 points in the second to lead 40-28 at halftime.
Evergreen Valley improved to 4-0 in BVAL-Mount Hamilton Division play and 12-4 overall.
Michelle Bradley led the Bulldogs (9-6 overall, 1-3 BVAL) in scoring for the second straight game, collecting 11 points and six rebounds. Sarina Santiago finished with 10 points, three rebounds and three steals, and Priyanka Kumar had 11 rebounds to go with nine points. Melissa Cachopo added eight points, three assists, three rebounds and a steal for Sobrato, which will host Silver Creek at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
GIRLS SOCCER
Lady Acorns blank Prospect
Fabiola Diaz netted two goals off assists from Amanda Whitling and Megan Rauschnot, and Live Oak buried Prospect 3-0 Friday in a BVAL-Santa Teresa Division game in Saratoga.
Rauschnot also scored off an assist by Kirsten Doting for the Lady Acorns (9-1-1 overall, 5-1 BVAL), who dropped the Panthers (1-7-2) to 1-4-1 in league.
Live Oak wraps up a three-game road stint Wednesday at Westmont before coming home to face Del Mar on Friday. Both games will begin at 3:15 p.m.
Bulldogs beaten by Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa netted a goal in both halves on the way to blanking Sobrato 2-0 Friday in San Jose.
The Lady Bulldogs (1-8-3 overall, 1-5-1 BVAL-Mount Hamilton Division), who were coming off their first victory of the season, received 15 saves from goalkeeper Maggie Cropp, and got three shots by Roxana Moreno and two by Marissa Benjamin.
