Gilroy High’s varsity boys soccer team stayed alive in the 15th
Homestead Christmas Cup by beating San Lorenzo Valley 5-0
Tuesday.
Following a rough 3-0 loss to Leland on Saturday, the win had
extra importance as it evened the Mustangs’ record to 1-1 in Cup
pool play.
FELTON – Gilroy High’s varsity boys soccer team stayed alive in the 15th Homestead Christmas Cup by beating San Lorenzo Valley 5-0 Tuesday.
Following a rough 3-0 loss to Leland on Saturday, the win had extra importance as it evened the Mustangs’ record to 1-1 in Cup pool play.
Senior Carlos Cortez kicked off the scoring bonanza by netting the first goal in the 10th minute of the game, and sophomore Jorge Sanchez put Gilroy ahead 3-0 by adding goals just before and after the half.
Anthony Velasquez and Jaime Ruiz each picked up goals in the final 20 minutes.
“It was a good win for us, especially coming off that 3-0 loss to Leland,” Gilroy coach Armando Padilla said. “It was nice to get our confidence back and really work on our new system.”
Gilroy’s coach has been tinkering with his lineup to start the season, but he wouldn’t give away what formations he has planned for future games.
Padilla said it will be crucial for Gilroy to win its next two tournament games to have any chance of advancing out of pool play and make a repeat appearance in the finals of the prestigious preseason tournament. Gilroy lost last year’s championship, held the day after Christmas, 1-0 to Pajaro Valley.
Advancing to the next stage of the tournament, the coach added, will require more effort on everyone’s part.
“We’re really focusing on taking practices more serious,” Padilla said. “Kids may have been riding off of the last couple years’ success.”
A Central Coast Section championship in 2007 and a CCS quarterfinal loss in overtime to Overfelt last season have made the Mustangs more of a target to other teams in recent years. While Padilla said his squad is getting better as it starts to understand his expectations, Gilroy will also be receiving a boost by the addition of senior midfielder Andy Moya.
Moya, out to begin the year due to club team commitments, will play his first game of the season Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. when the Mustangs begin Tri-County Athletic League play at North Salinas.
Gilroy will continue Cup play today at 6 p.m. when it hosts Soquel, followed by a game Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Yerba Buena against Monta Vista.
