Mustang kickers hope team speed gives them advantage in first
round playoff game against No. 5 Menlo-Atherton.
GILROY – The Gilroy High boys soccer squad took Tuesday’s practice indoors in preparation for today’s first-round CCS playoff game against No. 5 seed Menlo-Atherton – which will host the 2:30 p.m. contest on its turf soccer field.
“We’ve been lucky. We played three games on turf,” said assistant coach Brian Hall, listing two games at Salinas and one at Valley Christian both played on smaller turf fields. “Turf fields work to our advantage because we’re a team with a lot of speed. The ball tends to move a lot quicker.”
So the No. 12 seed Mustangs were practicing their touch inside the Gilroy High side gym – getting a feel for the ball on a faster surface.
“The ball rolls so much faster. It’s hard to judge the touch and speed of the ball so you end up losing it,” said Hall, a World Cup soccer official who is in his second year with Gilroy. “We’re trying to play it to the feet all the time and then beat them with speed.”
Gilroy (7-1-2 in T-CAL, 12-4-4 overall) was originally the No. 11 seed and scheduled for a playoff rematch against Watsonville – which beat the Mustangs 1-0 last season. But since league champ Live Oak was in the same bracket, Gilroy was moved down a seed and into the other bracket.
Since Saturday’s seeding meeting, the Gilroy coaching staff has done its homework on Menlo-Atherton (13-6-1) – speaking with a former JV coach there and other coaches as well as players in the same league.
“They’re a Latin-style ball possession team,” said Hall of Menlo-Atherton. “They like to switch the ball a lot. We’ve been working on in practices to keep the ball on the same side of the field and not allow them to switch.”
Last year, the Mustangs reached the postseason only to drop a hard-to-swallow 1-0 decision at the hands of Watsonville – which went on to the CCS Finals before falling to Bellarmine.
“Our goal this year is to win one more than last year,” said Hall, who wants to further the winning tradition started by last year’s squad. “If we do that, then we’re successful,”
Junior striker Javier Hernandez – a first-team All-League pick – remembers last year’s loss to Watsonville like it was yesterday. As a sophomore, a younger Hernandez missed two scoring chances that meant the game.
“I’ve been dreaming about it,” said Hernandez, who has developed into a team leader this season as a junior. “It’s a little different. I’ve matured a little bit more.
“We just have to play our hearts out and that’s pretty much it. (The playoffs) are more intense. Whoever wants it more moves on. Whoever doesn’t want it will be out.”
Hernandez has the confidence of his teammates as well.
“We’re ready. Last year, I was a junior and Javi was a sophomore. Right now, he’s more confident. He knows he’s going to do it,” said senior co-captain Horacio Arteaga, a second-team All-League choice. “This is the biggest game we’ve ever had. The sophomores have never played in a game this big. I hope they are ready. They are ready. It’s my last year so I want to at least win one CCS game.”
Before the Mustangs head north to Menlo-Atherton today, a pizza lunch is scheduled – giving the veteran guys an opportunity to speak with the younger players and explain the level of playoff soccer.
“We’re back and this year we expected to be back. We’re more like, ‘we’re here, let’s do something,'” senior first-team All-Leaguer Scott Martin said. “Apparently, they haven’t lost at home. It’s going to be a challenge playing on their turf that they play on every day. If we are able to control the game and put together some passes, we should be able to win.”
Martin anchors a strong, steady defensive unit of senior All-League honorable mentions Danny MacPhail and Marc Griffis as well as freshmen second-team All-Leaguer Artemio Arteaga (Horacio’s younger brother).
“If we support each other and communicate well, we’ll do fine against pretty much any team,” Martin said. “I’ve played with these guys a couple of years. We communicate well. We know how each other plays.”
It will be the first playoff experience for first-team All-League sophomore sensation Alfonso Motagalvan – who controls the middle of the field for Gilroy along with senior co-captain and second-team All-Leaguer Jorge Cruz.
“I think we can do the job,” said Motagalvan, walking to join his teammates in stretches outside on the athletic fields. “We deserve the right to play with the big boys and we’re going to show the big boys what we’re all about. We’re not going to let anyone just come and beat us.”
Junior striker Jorge Plata is another rookie when it comes to CCS Playoffs – but the first-year varsity player knows about playing on hard surfaces. Plata led the Boca Juniors to a championship in the Gilroy High Latin Club’s competitive indoor soccer league.
“I’m excited. We’re ready for this game. We’re just going to show them what Gilroy’s about,” said Plata, an All-League honorable mention. “We’re in shape. As long as we’re in shape, we can do anything. We just have to play like coach says with intensity and never give up.”
The Mustangs have called up two junior varsity players for the postseason from a JV team that finished unbeaten at 6-0-2 in league. Sophomore midfielder Aaron Thomas – younger brother of former GHS standouts Ted Thomas and Jonel Thomas – and sophomore forward Ismael Nava bring some added depth to the Gilroy bench.
Gilroy produced a total of 11 All-League selections – including sophomore striker Everardo Diaz de Leon and junior netminder Oscar Garcia.
“If we don’t step it up, one mistake and that’s it,” Hernandez said. “Last year, I had two chances to score and didn’t put them in. This year I told them if you have to dive into the goal just do whatever it takes.”
If the Mustangs top Menlo-Atherton, then they will play the winner of the No. 4 Bellarmine-No. 13 Alisal game in the Feb. 22 quarterfinals at Salinas High.
