Vera, Hernandez score in second half of Mustang kickers’ 2-0
home win over Woodside
GILROY – The Gilroy High boys soccer team opened a new chapter in its storybook season Wednesday, completely shutting down No. 14 Woodside for a 2-0 first-round victory in the CCS Playoffs.
“Our first-round demons are gone. The ‘Curse of the Bambino’ is off our shoulders,” said Coach Brian Hall, whose squad advanced to the quarterfinal round after suffering first-round losses the past two years. “I think (playing at home) helped a lot because it let us stay here and get focused before the game and not have to jump on a bus.”
The No. 3 Mustangs (19-0-5 overall) will now hit the road for Saturday’s playoff game at Santa Clara High School at 10 a.m. Gilroy will play the No. 6 Leland (16-3-6), which defeated Aptos 3-0 in the first-round game at Evergreen College.
“For a 2:30 afternoon game, we had a lot of supporters out here. A lot of credit goes to them for coming out here, taking the time off from their jobs and personal life to support our boys,” Hall said, “and hopefully we get the same support Saturday at 10 o’clock and Santa Clara High School.”
After bouncing consecutive shots off the cross bar for their best scoring chance of the opening half, the Mustangs finally broke the scoreless tie when junior striker Joel Vera scored a rebound goal off a hard close-range shot by senior midfielder Jorge Plata that the Woodside goalie could not save cleanly.
“I was at the right place that moment,” said Vera of his first career playoff goal. “I saw him take the shot and the ball just came out of nowhere and I just went up to it, gave it a little tap, and put it in.”
Vera, a reserve forward, was on the bench for the entire first half of action, waiting patiently for his chance to get into the game. The coaches felt an adjustment needed to be made up front and Vera was the player they turned to in replace of junior teammate Everardo Diaz de Leon.
“I was excited. I wanted to go in there. I haven’t got a lot of playing time, so I was hoping I’d get a little bit this time,” Vera said. “Coach Brian said if you go in there, I want you to go hard, so I did exactly what he said and the outcome, a goal.”
Vera’s goal boosted the Mustang spirits, and sparked another second-half strike by senior Javier Hernandez only minutes after the first. With Woodside pushing up everyone, even its goalie, to try for the equalizer, Hernandez used his speed to mount a counterattack. On the break, Hernandez dribbled right to the goal and took a shot that found the back of the net.
“I think some of us were a little bit nervous. I was a little bit nervous, but then after a couple of minutes it just went away and we were just trying to play our style of play,” Hernandez said. “We used our speed and our good skills. Plata was juking those guys and they just kept on fouling him.”
A much taller, physical Woodside squad continually were called for fouls in the second half, bodying a number of smaller Mustangs to the ground. But like the champions they are, the garlic kickers just kept on playing through the hard fouls.
“They were one of the tallest teams we’ve played, comparable to Santa Cruz and some of the bigger San Jose schools like Leland. Tall, but again didn’t use their height to their advantage,” Coach Armando Padilla said. “Fortunately for us, we were able to move the ball quickly around them and keep possession and knock the ball around. We used our speed to our advantage.”
It was a contrast in styles between the finesse game of the Tri-County Athletic League Champions of Gilroy and the physical play of the Peninsula Athletic League Champions of Woodside (14-3-2).
“We were able to withstand it and we didn’t lose our composure and we just kept going and going and going and eventually in soccer they dug their own hole because they lost focus,” Hall said. “Their style of play, after a while because we kept possession of the ball, it got them in trouble because the only way they could stop us is by fouling us.”
The fouls were plentiful, especially in the second half where Woodside was issued four yellow cards and one red card for taking down Gilroy players. The visitors had generated several scoring opportunities in the opening half, but seemed too busy arguing with officials over whistles than trying to get back into the game.
“I think the intensity level was up. I think our boys came out a little nervous. … Once we settled in and kind of reminded these guys, ‘Just relax, it’s still soccer, just play the game. It’s only as big as you want to make it,'” Padilla said. “It’s do-or-die, but at the same time we’ve got to stay relaxed and stay composed and play our soccer.”
The Mustangs remained patient, even though they could not get on the scoreboard early. On a set piece in the first half, Plata blasted a shot on goal that was tipped by the Woodside keeper off the crossbar. Hernandez then headed back the deflection only to have the ball come off the crossbar once again. Woodside then threatened on a set piece of its own, but the shot attempt swirled wide of the far post.
Later on in the first half on another free kick, Hernandez chipped the ball over the defense and to the feet of Diaz de Leon, who knocked the ball into the net but was called for offsides, nullifying his goal.
“It was a great game because everyone remained patient,” Hall said. “Joel Vera up front comes in off the bench, we made a change, and scores a goal he’ll never forget for the rest of his life.”
Before getting on the scoreboard, it was the Gilroy defense of Artemio Arteaga, Arron Thomas, and Ismael Nava keeping the aggressive Woodside attackers from putting any solid shots on net.
“We got excellent play from our defense. Ishi (Nava) played a heck of a game today. Artemio didn’t play his most consistent game or best game, but well enough to preserve a 2-0 win,” Padilla said.
The first-round victory also sets up a rematch between Gilroy and Leland, which met in the Homestead Christmas Cup Semifinals. That thrilling game ended in a 2-2 tie before going to penalty kicks, that ended on the seventh kicker with sophomore Jamie Binowski netting the clincher.
“I just want to play any team because if we’re good, we have to prove it by beating the next team whoever that is, Leland or Aptos,” said Hernandez, not yet learning of the Leland victory. “It was nice (playing at home). I had my mother out there and she doesn’t really come out because she has to work so that was great.”
“You want to be excited and you want to celebrate and enjoy the moment, but now we have to go up against either a tough Leland or tough Aptos team, and get ready for a quarterfinal match,” Padilla said. “With every game, we have to keep that intensity level up and get these guys prepared.”
