Unbeaten boys soccer team ranked No. 2 in CCS with X-Mas Semis
up next against Leland today
GILROY – Even before the Mustang kickers take the field for today’s semifinal game against Leland in the Homestead Christmas Cup Tournament, the garlic express made a jump up in the section rankings, now at No. 2 .
“It’s just amazing,” said first-year coach Armando Padilla, who runs the team along with Brian Hall. “We went from 10 to seven and then to two after beating Mitty in the quarterfinals.”
The Mustangs are still unbeaten with a 9-0-2 overall record, but they were not even a preseason team-to-watch in the opening rankings.
“It’s a good thing and then it’s a bad thing because the other teams are going to be gunning for us,” Padilla said. “It’s going to be hard for us to stay on top.”
Gilroy will play against Leland , the section’s top preseason pick that won the Christmas Cup last season, at noon at DeAnza College in Cupertino. The other semifinal game is between Live Oak, which beat Gunn with a late penalty kick goal in its quarterfinal game, and Watsonville, the current No. 1 ranked team in CCS.
“Whoever’s doing the rankings is doing a pretty good job,” said Padilla, whose seccond-ranked squad could face top ranked Watsonville in the Cup Finals if both win in the semifinals.
“They are not only looking like one of the top teams in the league but also in the section as well,” said San Benito High head soccer coach Mike Warner of Gilroy’s perfect start. “They are playing extremely good soccer right now.”
