Live Oak came close working out a win despite having to forfeit
a match to San Benito on Tuesday. The Acorns won the top three
singles matches but lost a close 4-3 contest.
Live Oak came close working out a win despite having to forfeit a match to San Benito on Tuesday. The Acorns won the top three singles matches but lost a close 4-3 contest.
“The kids played very well consideing being down,” said coach Ignacio Herrera. “Unfortanely it takes me than singles to win. We only had eight girls, because one was sick. We will be adding another girl so we can have a full team next week.
No. 1 Mallorie Stevens defeated Jill Merrigan 6-1, 6-0, No. 2 Amanda Bouchet bettered Vanessa Martinez 6-3, 6-1, and No. 3 freshman Shaila Patel defeated Tiffany Davies 6-1, 7-6. At No. 4 Kim Wakatsuki lost to Mary Von Urff 1-6, 0-6.
In No. 1 doubles, freshman Rachelle Abby and Megan Smart were defeated 2-6, 7-5, 0-6 by Becky Bonner and Mary Beth Miller despite coming back in the second game. Carliyn Ward and Shalyn Pharayil, playing their first year of tennis, lost in No. 2 doubles to Cathry Villarico and Jamie Huston 1-6, 3-6. Live Oak had to forfeit the third match.
On Thursday, Live Oak lost 5-2 at North Salinas. Stevens defeated Amanda Fernando 6-1, 6-4, and Bouchet won 6-1, 6-1. The No. 3 and No. 4 matches were both close. Patel lost 3-6, 5-7, and McPhearson lost 3-6, 6-1, 3-6. Smart and Abby at No. 1 doubles lost 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, while Tharayil and Brittany Scholars lost 2-6, 0-6.
“They are progressing, but it is very tough on them playing more experienced girls who have played for years,” Herrera said of his first-year No. 2 pair.
Field Hockey
The Live Oak field hockey team impoved to 3-1-1 in league after picking up a couple tough victories this week. On Tuesday the team beat visiting Cupertino 3-0 thanks to a couple of goals in the first three minutes.
In the first minute, Katie Hillman scored, and Allison Mutz scored the second 2:30 in on a short corner. The Acorns added the final score at the 16:20 mark on a goal by Quincy Sigona off an assist from Lauren Devine, who normally plays defense but moved up to take the place of Michelle McDonald, who is probably out for the season after taking a hit to her mouth in a recent game.
On Thursday at Willow Glen, the Acorns picked up a 1-0 win in sudden death. In the first minute of overtime goalie Kassandra Souza made a nice stick save during a short corner on a ball heading to the right side. Live Oak worked the ball down the field, and Mutz found Hillman, who drew the goalie out for the game-winner.
“It was a very aggressive game from both sides,” said coach Christy Musselmann. “It was an intense game. We really needed this win for morale turnaround to keep the momentum going.”
Live Oak picked up its first win of the season on Sept. 25 at Del Mar when Jennie Alton scored on an assist from Hillman.
The team has had trouble focusing early on in games this year, but Musselmann said that is improving all the time.
“We got to keep momentum going,” Musselmann said. “It took 27 minutes to get going (against Willow Glen). It seems like we kind of want to test the waters. We can’t come out flat like we have. They’re getting more excited, and their confidnence is building with every win.”
The Acorns play a pair of home games this week. On Tuesday, Live Oak plays St. Ignasious and then Monta Vista on Thursday.
“We’re in one of the toughest brackets right now as far as the competition goes,” Musselmann said. “The teams are pretty even; everyone is really good. There is no real edge like some teams have in the ‘A’ division. It will be a fight to the finish.”
Cross Country
The Live Oak boys cross country team was defeated 20-40 by Hollister and 26-31 in the double dual meet Monday at Toro Park. Billy Wong finished first with a time of 16:56.
“It is the first time a Live Oak athlete beat a hollister athlete to take first place in something like eight years,” said coach Dean Raymond, who was flustrated by the team’s performance and unity.
Jesus Atanacio finished ninth for Live Oak, Nick Mott, who was out the first meet, finished 11th as the third varsity runner. Josh Craig, who was finally eligible to race, was slowed down on the course by sickness.
The girls team lost 22-39 to Hollister and 25-30 to Notre Dame.
Cobbie Jones again won easily with a time of 19:42. Jaime O’ Brien, a sprinter on the Hollister track team finished second with a time of 21:47.
