GILROY – A second half goal by Josh Gonzalez was all the Gilroy
High boys varsity soccer team needed to defeat Soquel in the teams’
season opener Tuesday night in Gilroy.
GILROY – A second half goal by Josh Gonzalez was all the Gilroy High boys varsity soccer team needed to defeat Soquel in the teams’ season opener Tuesday night in Gilroy.
“There were a lot of positives on our side but at the same time, I saw things that still need to be worked on, said head coach Armando Padilla. “It was a good learning experience.”
Despite maintaining ball control throughout the majority of the first half, the Mustangs were unable to capitalize on their offensive pressure, leaving both teams knotted at 0-0.
Gonzalez struck for the Mustangs’ lone goal early in the second half, receiving a pass from Jorge Sanchez.
Led by senior Jose Luis Lopez, the Mustangs’ defense stifled Soquel’s offensive push all night, leaving little work for goalkeeper, Christian Lustre.
“I thought, overall, the team had good chemistry,” Lopez said. “We tried to stay organized as much as we could when they had the ball.”
The 1-0 victory gives the Mustangs a lift heading into the annual Homestead Christmas Cup, a nearly month long tournament which begins Saturday. Gilroy faces Lincoln High School to open the
competition.
The Mustangs have lost in the final three years in a row.
“We are going to have some pretty tough games,” Lopez said. “We have a good group of players. We are expecting to get to the finals again.”
