GHS Boys Soccer Team Upset By Salinas, 1-0
The boys soccer team entered Thursday’s road contest flying high after a 2-0 victory over North Salinas earlier in the week, knowing full well that they were in a position to control there own destiny.
But following a stunning 1-0 loss to Salinas last night that all changed.
“It’s the first time in four years that we’ve lost to them. In fact over the last two years and four games played we had outscored them 20-0,” said boys soccer coach Armando Padilla. “In the beginning of the second half you could kind of feel the tide change. They (Salinas) were starting to feel the revenge factor and started believing in themselves.”
And then it happened.
With close to five minutes remaining in the game a Gilroy player was called for a foul that set up a penalty kick. But when the Gilroy goalkeeper, Randy Moya, made a phenomenal save it looked as if they Mustangs had dodged a bullet. Unfortunately for Gilroy, however, no one covered the rebound and Salinas’ alert play got them to the ball first which allowed for the game’s lone goal.
“It’s one of the four things that we exactly talked about at halftime. ‘Don’t make any stupid fouls in our third of the field because they could end up being awfully costly,'” Padilla said. “And that’s what happened. No one is there to clear the rebound and they score.”
The goal in the game’s 75th minute only gave Gilroy less than five minutes to answer and they were unable to get the tying goal.
“We just couldn’t find the back of the net tonight,” Padilla admitted. “We outshot the 13-2 and one of those shots on goal was the penalty kick, but we just didn’t play the way that we’re capable of and it’s very, very, very frustrating.
“We were in a position that we controlled our own destiny but now, at 3-2 in league, we’re in a dogfight for second place and only the two top teams make the CCS playoffs so now we have to really bear down and get it done,” Padilla continued. “Our only bright spot tonight was the outstanding play of Humberto Pineda who really controlled the midfield for us. He controlled the tempo and he gives us great depth at that position off the bench.”
