Armando Padilla was none too pleased Tuesday evening to see his
team open a stretch of Tri-County Athletic League play with a 1-1
draw at home against Alvarez.
Gilroy High’s boys soccer coach expects more, which could be
also said of the Mustangs opponents after recent, successful
seasons.
GILROY – Armando Padilla was none too pleased Tuesday evening to see his team open a stretch of Tri-County Athletic League play with a 1-1 draw at home against Alvarez.
Gilroy High’s boys soccer coach expects more, which could be also said of the Mustangs opponents after recent, successful seasons.
“We’re not at the same caliber as we were last year,” Padilla said. “It’s more mental because we do have the skill. I think it goes to these guys think they can turn the switch on when it comes to games.
“These guys just don’t get it. Every team that plays Gilroy is out to get them.”
The Eagles’ Christian Barrera placed a header into the net off a corner kick in the 22nd minute after being denied a goal on a solid strike from 35 yards out just a play earlier.
The Mustangs responded with an equalizer 13 minutes later, when Ramiro Diaz fielded a goal kick that was mishandled by an Alvarez defender and took the ball nearly half the length of the field before swinging wide right of a charging keeper to slot the ball in the right side of the net.
“That’s one thing we tell our forwards, ‘Always stay on the last defender,’ ” Padilla said.
Diaz almost added another goal two minutes later when he headed a free kick off the left post. It was one of several shots that hit the woodwork in the first half for Gilroy.
Gilroy’s coaches and players were all left with the same sinking feeling after a scoreless second half.
“We should have won this game, for sure,” Mustangs captain Bruce Ocana said, noting that it will be up to the players to rededicate themselves so execution isn’t a problem on gamedays.
“It all starts at practice,” he said. “We just need better performances at practice.”
Alvarez (6-5) now stands atop the TCAL with a 3-0 record. Gilroy (7-3-3) drops to 1-1 in league, with a game at Palma scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The Mustangs will have to regroup without standout sophomore striker Jorge Sanchez, who is likely to miss the next two months due to an injury sustained at the De La Salle College Showcase this past weekend.
“Now, it’s really tough,” Padilla said.
