Also, Sobrato’s Thomas Torres has hat trick
Aside from a goal, Sobrato coach Paul Nishimatsu could not ask for more from his girls soccer team Wednesday.
Behind another stone-wall effort by freshman goalkeeper Maggie Cropp, the Lady Bulldogs waged a scoreless tie with Pioneer in a breezy Blossom Valley Athletic League-Mount Hamilton Division match at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center.
The Mustangs beat Sobrato 2-0 in their previous meeting Dec. 19.
The Bulldogs (1-10-4 overall, 1-7-2 BVAL) were held to one shot Tuesday — credited to Kayla Nishimatsu — but put together an impressive defensive performance.
“They played well today. It’s a carry-over from our last few games,” Paul Nishimatsu said. “They’re starting to click a little bit better.”
Pioneer (2-7-2, 2-4-2) totaled 15 shots, including a game-high five by Loren Lussier. Those translated into five saves for Cropp, who collected her first shutout of the season.
“Maggie was excellent today. She always is,” Paul Nishimatsu said. “We would have liked to give her a one-nil shutout, but oh well.”
Cropp’s biggest save came in the 70th minute when she gloved Vera Carlson-Bowen’s line drive from 10 yards out.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better keep, especially in games like this,” Sobrato senior Lindsay Van Keulen said. “Maggie never ceases to amaze us.”
With the wind at their backs, the Mustangs controlled possession for most of the first half. They mustered eight shots, but only three on goal.
“The wind was pretty strong, but it didn’t affect us,” said Nishimatsu, now in his second year as head coach. “I wish the wind had actually stayed up so we could take advantage of it even more.”
Led by Van Keulen, the Bulldogs’ passing materialized in the second half. Van Keulen was moved from defenseman to forward four games ago.
“I like playing offense because I can be more aggressive,” she said. “If I commit fouls back on defense, it’s usually a penalty kick. Up top, it doesn’t really matter. I like playing more physical.”
Paul Nishimatsu is proud of the switch. In her first game at forward, Van Keulen scored two goals in a 3-1 victory over Evergreen Valley — Sobrato’s only win thus far.
“We needed to produce more offense, obviously,” Paul Nishimatsu said. “And one of the reasons I put Lindsay up there is she can handle the ball pretty quick and she has a pretty good right foot.”
Despite the change of direction in the second half, Pioneer’s back line was tough to crack.
“We needed to make better passes,” Van Keulen began, “like through balls and seeing runs — seeing opening spaces to pass the ball and knowing when to make a run so the person can pass to you.
“This game showed we’re still improving, even this late in the season. We’re still in it, mentally.”
The Bulldogs have four games left, starting today at home against Leigh.
Acorns keep pace with Willow Glen
Live Oak is on a collision course with division leader Willow Glen — and picking up speed.
The Lady Acorns turned in their fifth consecutive shutout Wednesday, beating Overfelt 1-0 in a BVAL-Santa Teresa Division game in San Jose.
Emily Kyle’s first goal of the season was all Live Oak (12-1-1 overall, 8-1-1 BVAL) needed. Megan Rauschnot got the assist, and Acorns goalkeepers Selena Braun and Gladis Covarrubias combined for a shutout.
Overfelt dropped to 7-8-1 overall and 3-6-1 in league.
BOYS SOCCER
Torres nets three in loss
Thomas Torres’ hat trick wasn’t enough to lift Sobrato past Yerba Buena on Tuesday.
The Aztec Warriors scored four goals in the first half on the way winning this high-scoring BVAL-Santa Teresa Division bout in San Jose.
Austin Jackson also scored for the Bulldogs (7-6-2 overall, 4-4-1 BVAL), who got a dozen saves from goalkeeper Simon Schmidt.
Yerba Buena improved to 7-3-3 overall and 5-2-3 in league.
Pioneer gets first tie against LO
Pioneer snapped an 11-game losing streak at Live Oak’s expense.
The visiting Mustangs worked a 1-1 draw with the Acorns on Tuesday in a BVAL-Santa Teresa Division match at Live Oak High School.
Pioneer moved to 0-11-1 overall and 0-9-1 in league.
The Acorns (5-5-4, 2-3-3) remained winless in four straight games.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Magic number four for SHS
Continuing their pattern of answering losses with wins, the Sobrato Lady Bulldogs beat Leigh 40-31 on the road Wednesday, bouncing back from Friday’s loss to Piedmont Hills.
Sobrato overcame a 17-10 halftime deficit with 13 points in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth.
The Bulldogs wrapped up the first half of BVAL-Mount Hamilton Division play at 11-7 overall and 3-4 in league. With seven games remaining, their magic number for qualifiying for sectionals is four.
No encore for Acorns
Ariana Guerrero scored 14 points and Sarah Mesa netted nine for Live Oak in a 49-34 loss at Andrew Hill on Tuesday.
The Lady Acorns (1-15 overall, 1-6 BVAL-West Valley Division) were coming off their first win of the season, but fell victim to a Falcons team that has won four straight.
Sopheap Chan scored a dozen points to lead Andrew Hill (5-11, 4-2).
