LO Field Hockey Wins, Ties
Playing at home this week, the Live Oak field hockey team won its first game of the week and then tied its second game.
Kami Tersini scored four of the five goals for the Acorns in the two games.
“We had been playing her at mid then we brought her up to forward,” said coach Christy Musselmann. “She has been producing and getting the job done.”
The Acorns (5-5-3, 3-3-3 BVAL) defeated Cupertino 3-1 Tuesday, although the score could have been higher because three goals were called back.
In addition to the two goals by Tersini, Lexi Nuno also scored a goal for the Acorns. Sarah Locarnini had a pair of assists.
On Thursday, Live Oak fell behind 2-0 against Leigh in the first half, but then rallied with a pair of goals in the second to tie the score. The first Live Oak goal was scored on a short corner, and the second was scored after Live Oak regained possession after a short corner. Nuno and Tanya Ferry assisted Tersini for the goals.
The Acorns received solid defensive play from Sarah Whitling, Raelyn Ferry and Julie Jacobson, as well as first-year goalie Janet Lee.
The Acorns will be at Los Altos Tuesday and then will face visiting Westmont Thursday. Musselmann said the key to winning those games will be not falling behind early as the team has had the tendency to do.
“They have to come out quick,” Musselmann said. “They can’t wait too long because then the damage is done. We are pretty much even as far as talent and skill goes. I still feel its anyone’s game right now. There have been a lot of upsets, and there is no clear No. 1 team.”
NOTE: The JV field hockey team (7-5-1, 6-0-3 BVAL) remained undefeated in league with a pair of victories. On Tuesday, Live Oak won 1-0 with a goal from Brooke Willis, and on Thursday the Acorns won 3-0.
BullDog Hockey Still Developing
The young Sobrato High field hockey team, with just two juniors, continues to improve.
Although the Bulldogs (2-1-10, 2-1-6 BVAL) were shut out in both games this week, coach Carmen Villegas was pleased by her team’s overall performance.
“Overall, the week was a good week,” Villegas said. “We are going in the direction we want to go.”
On Tuesday, Sobrato lost 4-0 at San Jose Academy and then lost 3-0 against visiting Branham Thursday.
Against Branham, Sobrato kept the game scoreless until the final 10 minutes. Villegas said she was actually thinking about overtime. But it wasn’t to be.
“It was a very competitive game,” Villegas said. “We loosened our marking, and we gave them some opportunities to penetrate. It all comes with experience. There were very few shots at goal on both sides. In the first half, we stayed focused on our rolls, and we stayed intense.”
Kasey Post, at goalie, held the Bulldogs close defensively. Also playing well on defense were left back Elizabeth Gordon and sweeper Rachelle Nin.
The Bulldogs have scored five goals this season after not scoring any last year.
Acorn Tennis Team on a Roll
Live Oak defeated Gilroy 6-1 Tuesday and then San Benito 4-3 Thursday to pick up a pair of Tri-County Athletic League victories.
“It was a good win for us,” said Live Oak coach Chris Yoder of the victory over San Benito. “Hollister beat us last time, but they were missing their No. 2 and No. 3 players. We got kind of lucky.”
Live Oak No. 1 singles player Shaila Patel lost 1-6, 1-6 to San Benito’s Danielle Burke. No. 2 Becca Riess defeated Kaitlyn O’Keefe 6-0, 6-0. No. 3 Rachelle Abbey defeated Christina Watson 6-1, 6-0 and No. 4 Karissa Watanabe defeated Felicia Freitas 6-2, 6-0.
In doubles, Live Oak’s Arianna Hosseini and Kiera Watanabe lost 5-7, 2-6 to Marlene Ramirez and Lizzy Gatto. Matice McClellan and Jasmin Tharayil defeated Michelle Rovella and Courtney Fisher 6-0, 6-2 and Charissa Hosseini and Kalea Cleeton lost to Jessica Trudell and Dominique Gaston 3-6, 6-4 (8-10).
