On Tuesday, Gilroy’s boys soccer team found itself in the land
of nil-niller. It’s a dreary place, where the world of sport
showcases two teams but no winner.
Gilroy
On Tuesday, Gilroy’s boys soccer team found itself in the land of nil-niller. It’s a dreary place, where the world of sport showcases two teams but no winner.
The Mustangs played 80-plus minutes of soccer against the Alvarez Eagles in the Tri-County Athletic League opener at Garcia Elder Sports Complex, but when the final whistle blew and players looked at the scoreboard, it simply stared right back them, showing a 0-0 draw.
“Sometimes soccer is a funny game,” GHS coach Brian Hall said. “We just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”
Gilroy’s offense picked up the tempo from games past, and had several opportunities to break through on goal. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, lady luck was a no-show.
Midfielder Bruce Ocana had a couple strong attempts in the first half, but his shots either strayed wide or went directly into the keeper’s hands.
The Mustangs’ best opportunity in the first 40 minutes came off a Kevin Grove throw-in, which pinballed off several players before sitting still at the top of the box. Gilroy’s Oscar Zuniga charged forward and blasted the ball low and straight, but the Eagles’ keeper was in proper position, collecting the shot without allowing a rebound.
“We got the ball behind the defenders, but missed opportunities,” Hall said. “Shots either went to the keeper or off defenders. We kept pounding but we were a bit unlucky.”
Defensively, the Mustangs were actually quite fortunate.
Playing sweeper, Grove was able to clear a ball off the goal line in the second half, keeping the score even by a matter of inches. Goalkeeper Alberto Reyes also had a couple clutch saves in addition to some assistance from the post, which deflected one shot late in the match.
While the GHS coaching staff still feels players aren’t performing their best in terms of effort, Tuesday’s game was a marked improvement from Friday’s 3-0 loss to Bellarmine Prep.
“We lack a little bit of that hunger and some of that fight (from last year),” Hall said. “[Tuesday], even though we had some faults, it was one of the better games we’ve played recently.”
Gilroy’s next game will be Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at San Benito.
The Mustangs will then play in the De La Salle College Showcase, which will have scouts and talent evaluators from around the country in attendance. The team plays Bishop O’Dowd Friday at 3 p.m. and Richmond at 4 p.m. Saturday.
