Acorns will play for league championship, Bulldogs possibly for
CCS berth
MORGAN HILL — Final home games are traditionally reserved for commemorating the close of a senior season. Sobrato boys soccer followed suit Tuesday against visiting Hill, and the graduating Bulldogs did all they could to make sure their final prep campaign lasts as long as possible.
Seniors Jovani Franco and Adam Guerra helped propel Sobrato to a 2-1 victory that lifted their red-hot club into third place in the Santa Teresa Division with one regular-season match left. Franco had a hand in both scores, including the game-winner that Guerra buried in the 61st minute at Sobrato High.
“It’s a great feeling to get a win like this,” Franco said. “We still have a shot at (making the playoffs), and everyone’s playing hard.”
Winners of four straight, the Bulldogs (8-4-6 overall, 7-3-3 league) have climbed two spots in the division in less than a week. They can move into second Thursday if they beat Lick and Westmont loses to league champion Prospect.
The Santa Teresa will likely send its top two placers to the Central Coast Section playoffs, which begin next week.
“The guys are still hungry; they’re still fighting. I love seeing that, especially today for the seniors,” Sobrato coach Ricardo Martinez said. “It’s going to be tough getting an at-large berth at CCS, so we have to finish strong.”
The Bulldogs played with conscious effort Tuesday, hustling to keep plays alive on offense and adquately pressuring Christian Oregel, a star forward for Hill (3-8-1, 1-7-1).
After a scoreless first half, Shawn Henner gave Sobrato a 1-0 lead when he headed home a rebound shot by Franco in the 50th minute. Henner set up the score with a cross to Franco, who fired directly at the Falcons’ goalkeeper from 15 yards out. The ball caromed high away from the keeper, and Henner tapped it into the net.
“To score on Senior Day feels really special,” said Henner, a sophomore midfielder. “I wanted to do my best for the older guys like Jovani. He always puts us in a good position to score.”
The Bulldogs’ defense let up briefly nine minutes later, and Oregel finished a loose ball from just outside the penalty box to tie the game.
Refocused, Sobrato was back in control from there. Senior midfielder Cesar Arellano gave chase to a long pass that was cleared out of bounds, then threw in to Franco at midfield. Franco dribbled 10 yards, drawing four defenders around him, and passed to senior forward Johnny Ceja for a give-and-go. Ceja dished to Franco at the top of the box, and Franco tapped the ball to Guerra for a clean shot that was just out of reach of the sprawling keeper.
“I wanted to score today, but it’s always good when the other guys do it,” Franco said.
Live Oak 1, Silver Creek 0
The Acorns can clinch their first league championship in three years Thursday with a win or a tie at Santa Teresa on the final afternoon of West Valley Division play.
Live Oak (8-2-9, 8-0-5) ran its unbeaten streak to 16 games Tuesday at Silver Creek (7-3-2, 5-2-2), as Jacob Montoya finished a crisp pass from Cesar Lustre with about five minutes remaining.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Oak Grove 70, Sobrato 34
The host Eagles scored 20 or more points in the first three quarters Tuesday to lock up their fourth straight victory.
The Lady Bulldogs’ last shot at a league win will come with Thursday’s 7 p.m. season finale against Westmont. Before the game, Sobrato (3-20, 0-13) will honor its senior class that was part of back-to-back trips to the CCS playoffs, plus the program’s first league championship in 2008.
Freshman Alyssa Firato led the Bulldogs with 13 points, and sophomore Jessica Westall had eight.
Jolana Jordan had 22 points, and Emily Tevez scored 21 for Oak Grove (12-11, 7-6).
Lick 55, Live Oak 17
Melissa Cabrera netted 17 points and Yazaira Arias added 15 as the Comets kept pace with Branham for first place in the West Valley.
The Lady Acorns (4-16, 2-10) received eight points from Jacey Turay, one of six seniors who will be recognized before Live Oak’s last home game at 6 p.m. Thursday against Hill.
Lick (12-7, 11-2) and Branham will play for the league championship that night.
