Grizzlies win 2-0 despite having just 3 shots on goal
Gilroy – Opposing coaches who watched the Gilroy-Pajaro Valley soccer game Saturday in the finale of a five-game Homestead Cup at Garcia-Elder Complex were as stunned as the Mustangs at the final result.
“I had coaches coming up to me and saying they couldn’t believe we lost,” coach Armando Padilla said. “We’re playing well enough to beat teams. It’s just the executing in the attacking third which is not quite there. We’re like a V-8 automobile running on four cylinders.”
The Grizzlies had just three shots on goal against Gilroy, which was on the attack most of the game. Two of them resulted in goals as Pajaro Valley won 2-0 and ousted the Mustangs from the Homestead Cup.
“Poor defensive tackling cost us,” coach Brian Hall said. “We need to mark tight and not allow (opponents) to pick up speed with the ball. That’s been the story of our existence the last few games. We’re creating chances. We just don’t do anything with them.”
The bad news for Gilroy is that it is winless in its last three games. The good news is the Mustangs have lost only one of them. The bad news is the ties have come against Tri-County League foes Alvarez and San Benito. The good news is they get another shot at those teams.
GHS has been offensively challenged the last three games, scoring just one goal in that span.
The players can draw motivation from more than the coaches this week. Former GHS star Alfonso Motagalvan, who was such an integral part of University of California-Santa Barbara’s run to the NCAA Division 1 title, is working out with the Mustangs this week.
“We need to get the right people in the right places at the right time,” Padilla said.
GHS will have plenty of time to work out the kinks. The Mustangs have a scrimmage with its alumni Dec. 29 but don’t return to regular action until Jan. 4 when Burlingame comes to Garcia-Elder Complex.
