The Sobrato Bulldogs outlasted Christopher High 3-1 in the
season opener for both squads in non-league boys varsity soccer
action Wednesday in Morgan Hill.
Freshman Carlos Jimenez scored Christopher High School’s first goal in varsity boys soccer, but the Sobrato Bulldogs were the ones doing most of the celebrating Wednesday in the Outdoor Sports Center.
Sobrato built a commanding lead with early scores by Felipe Villamares and Scott Henningsen, and Shawn Henner blasted home an insurance goal in the 39th minute as the Bulldogs opened with a 3-1 victory in nonleague play.
Making their varsity debut, the Cougars looked like the more aggressive side early on, keeping the ball on Sobrato’s half of the field with timely passing and stout defense.
“We possessed the ball well, held the ball well and I think offensively we held our own,” CHS head coach Stephan Casey said. “We have things to work on defensively.”
Sobrato made better use of its scoring opportunities, starting with Villamares goal in the fifth minute. From 20 yards out, the junior midfielder got the ball in space, took two steps toward net then unloaded a pinpoint shot into the top right corner, freezing Christopher goalkeeper Ivan Ortega.
“They were bigger and stronger and that hurt us from a physical standpoint,” Casey said.
Henningsen struck a minute later, cleaning up a loose ball in front of the net after Ortega stopped his first shot from point-blank range. Miles Mammen set up the score with a nice pass up top to Henner, who crossed to Henningsen.
Henner, the back-to-back Sophomore and Freshman of the Year in the Santa Teresa Division, did just that in the final minute before halftime – with Henningsen returning the favor. Henningsen threaded the ball to him in open space about 25 yards away from the goal, and Henner turned and fired into the net to make it 3-1.
Casey said he wanted a better showing from his young team, which features seven freshmen, seven sophomores, six juniors and no seniors.
“For us, our goal this year is to win as many games as we can and just get better as a team,” he said.
At least Jimenez came away with a boost in confidence. The forward scored off a perfectly placed cross from Braulio Lopez in the 26th minute, one-timing the ball with his right foot on a slide. Sobrato goalkeeper Ramsey Ghamrawi, who had five saves in one half of play, didn’t have a chance.
“It was definitely a good feeling,” Jimenez said. “I play defense during the club season, so it was fun getting to score.”
The Cougars (0-1) continue non-league play in the first game of the annual Homestead Christmas Cup against Pacific Collegiate Friday at 5 p.m. at Watsonville High.
