Dane nets first goal of season in Mustang kickers’ 6-0 win over
Palma
GILROY – Junior Stephan Christiensen came to Gilroy High School on a one-year program as an exchange student from Denmark. He played soccer in his native land and decided to try out for the team.
In Friday’s 6-0 home blowout of Palma, the reserve forward took full advantage of his limited minutes by heading in his first goal of the season less than five minutes after subbing in.
“I don’t even know what to say. First goal in America, unbelievable,” said Christensen, who’s been in California since August and heads back home in July. “One-year American experience, I get a goal.”
Christensen entered the game with the Mustangs ahead by five goals in the second half, and the Dane found himself in the right place at the right time. Using what he learned in practice, Christensen went to the near post and waited for the cross from teammate Artemio Arteaga – who sent the ball right onto his head.
“Nobody took the small post over here. (The coaches) were talking about it during practice the whole time so I thought I was going to stay there and see what happens,” Christensen said. “The ball came and I just put a header towards the goal. I didn’t even have to think or do anything. I just had to stick my head there.”
Gilroy’s sixth goal did not decide the outcome, but it was a special treat that Christensen can bring home with him.
“That’s awesome,” said Coach Armando Padillo of the first career goal. “It’s great to put some teams away early. That way we can get our bench in and rotate some players in there. Today we were fortunate enough to get four goals in the first half and get a lot of other players some playing time. All of these guys work hard in practice so all these players deserve playing time.”
The Mustangs (3-0 in T-CAL,12-0-4 overall) jumped right on the Chieftains, as senior striker Javier Hernandez scored the opening goal six minutes in. Hernandez, the reigning league’s reigning MVP, chased a ball that the Palma goalie seemed to grab at the top of the penalty box. But the ball came loose and rolled out of his grasp, so Hernandez hopped over the goalie and touched it into the empty net.
Staying on the offensive, Gilroy registered its second goal when senior midfielder Jorge Plata finished off a sweet pass from junior teammate Everardo Diaz de Leon – who beat several defenders in the penalty box before dishing off.
“After the first two games to start the league out, we just came out kinda flat. Maybe it was the week and a half, two-week break we had in between. We had pretty much practice for two weeks,” Padilla said. “It took a little while to get us back into game shape. The first half, that’s the style of soccer that we play, that’s the kind of caliber soccer we can play.”
More was still to come in the first half as Diaz de Leon netted the third straight Gilroy goal, making up ground to blaze past a Palma defender on an attacking run and then blasting a shot into the back of the net.
Donning their new home whites, the surging garlic kickers claimed a commanding four-goal lead to end the half. Hernandez netted his second goal off an assist from Diaz de Leon.
With Palma held in check, Gilroy began to empty its bench to give some well-deserved playing time to its reserves. Junior captain Alfonso Motagalvan scored the Mustangs’ fifth goal off a corner kick.
“There’s 80 minutes of playing time and it’s just unfortunate that this team’s competitive and people have to battle for their positions. But it’s great when you can put an opponent away early on so that everyone gets that good feeling,” said Padilla, whose squad will host North Salinas on Tuesday before heading to defending league champion Live Oak, which defeated the Mustangs and tied them last season.
