Today marks the Sobrato Bulldogs’ biggest boys soccer match
since their inaugural playoff game, a 4-1 loss to Overfelt on Feb.
23, 2011.
They are set to reach another milestone with their Mount
Hamilton Division debut at 3:15 p.m. – against the same opponent.
The visiting Bulldogs have a little more room for error this time
around, but a loss would still be critical according to their
coach.
Today marks the Sobrato Bulldogs’ biggest boys soccer match since their inaugural playoff game, a 4-1 loss to Overfelt on Feb. 23, 2011.
They are set to reach another milestone with their Mount Hamilton Division debut at 3:15 p.m. – against the same opponent. The visiting Bulldogs have a little more room for error this time around, but a loss would still be critical according to their coach.
“I haven’t seen them play, but I’ve heard they’re doing really, really, really well right now,” Ricardo Martinez said two weeks ago. “(Overfelt’s) been beating the crap out of some teams, which I’m a little concerned about because it’s really tough when you start out with a loss in your first league game. … We have to be ready.”
The Royals (3-2-1) returned a small portion of their 2010-11 team that placed second in the division and reached the Central Coast Section Division II quarterfinals. They have scored in bunches though with five goals by Juan Carlos Bugarin and three by Sergio Mendoza and Alberto Unzueta.
The Bulldogs have been less proficient offensively – Scott Henningsen leads the team with two goals – but the 2011 Santa Teresa Division champs have battled in each game this year.
Their confidence level was high despite a 1-4-1 finish in nonleague play. Imagine what a tie, much less a win today would do.
Thursday Sobrato faces another playoff regular in Yerba Buena at home.
“We didn’t have a very good record at the start of last year, and we ended up winning league,” Henningsen said. “So I think we just need to keep going our hardest and see how things work out.”
Overfelt-SHS is one of several key matchups on tap for the opening week of Blossom Valley Athletic League play.
The Sobrato boys basketball team also is set for a challenging Mount Hamilton Division opener at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Westmont. The Bulldogs went a disappointing 2-8 in nonleague play and were dealt injuries to three key starters – Ben Vater, Travis Saenz, Jerry Jacob. They will be tested against a Westmont (4-4) team that has played tough so far.
The Live Oak boys soccer team, fresh off an undefeated preseason, visits Santa Teresa for an early B division tilt at 3:15 p.m. today. A year ago both teams were in contention for the Santa Teresa Division crown entering the final two weeks of the regular season. Their latest meeting promises to be high scoring; the Acorns and Saints have combined for almost 40 goals this winter.
Santa Teresa could challenge Live Oak on the girls side as well in their Mount Hamilton Division opener scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in Morgan Hill. The Saints played a few quality opponents in nonleague and lost only twice – to Monta Vista and St. Francis. Santa Teresa took second in the division last year, while Live Oak laid claim to a second straight title.
Local teams with a great shot at 1-0 in league include Live Oak boys and girls basketball, and Sobrato girls soccer, girls basketball and wrestling.
The LOHS girls and boys begin their West Valley Division basketball campaigns at 7 p.m. today and Thursday, respectively, at home against Yerba Buena. Neither Acorns squad has had trouble beating the Aztec Warriors in year’s past.
Sobrato girls soccer opens Mount Hamilton Division play at 3:15 p.m. in the Outdoor Sports Complex against 1-4 Branham.
The Sobrato girls basketball team should compete with the Bruins (4-6) as well in their first Santa Teresa Division game, set for 7 p.m. today at SHS.
On the mat, Sobrato visits Evergreen Valley in a winnable dual for the Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. today on opening night for Santa Teresa Division wrestling.
Live Oak’s wrestling team, once starved for league team titles, is vying for a BVAL trifecta starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against visiting Andrew Hill. The Acorns, ranked No. 14 in the CCS, won the West Valley Division in 2010, the Santa Teresa Division in 2011 and are poised to make a run for a Mount Hamilton Division crown in their first season.
