A topsy-turvy season for Gilroy High’s boys soccer team came to
an end Wednesday night in the first round of the Central Coast
Section playoffs.
Hosting Gunn under the illuminating lights of Garcia-Elder
Sports Complex, the Mustangs’ season was all but extinguished just
before halftime when Danny Jauregui took a cross from Greg Albrecht
in the 38th minute, settled the ball at his feet while standing at
the top of the box, and slotted a shot to left of the outstretched
arms of Gilroy keeper Miguel Galvan.
The play had a striking resemblance to the first goal of the
game, when Scott Baer streaked up the right sideline off a
give-and-go and served a ball into Sean Parshad for a volley, also
finding its way into the left side of the net.
GILROY – A topsy-turvy season for Gilroy High’s boys soccer team came to an end Wednesday night in the first round of the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Hosting Gunn under the illuminating lights of Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, the Mustangs’ season was all but extinguished just before halftime when Danny Jauregui took a cross from Greg Albrecht in the 38th minute, settled the ball at his feet while standing at the top of the box, and slotted a shot to left of the outstretched arms of Gilroy keeper Miguel Galvan.
The play had a striking resemblance to the first goal of the game, when Scott Baer streaked up the right sideline off a give-and-go and served a ball into Sean Parshad for a volley, also finding its way into the left side of the net.
“It was identical, except the guy on the receiving end was (number) seven instead of 19,” Gilroy coach Armando Padilla said.
In between those two scores, the Mustangs applied pressure on Gunn keeper Joseph Welch, but each opportunity was just wide of goal or stopped feet short by a flailing defender’s foot.
Gilroy’s Forrest Alvarez, Andy Moya and Victor Garcia all had shots in the middle of the first half that came agonizingly close to giving the Mustangs the equalizer.
Heading into the intermission down two goals rather than one, however, dramatically changed the way the Mustangs were able to approach the second half.
“That’s the winner right there,” Gilroy senior midfielder Bruce Ocana said of Jauregui’s goal.
“It was a good road. I know it’s been a good experience. You can’t win them all.”
Gunn (10-6-5), entering the tournament as an 11 seed to the Mustangs’ 6, will return to Gilroy Saturday at 4 p.m. to face No. 3 Mt. Pleasant (15-4-1).
A sluggish start by GHS deserves much of the blame for Wednesday’s result, as Gunn controlled the tempo from the outset.
“The first half, we pretty much dominated,” Gunn coach Freddy Ferragut said. “We played our style: Possession.”
After the game, Padilla was willing to admit as much.
“From the moment the whistle blew, you could tell Gunn was going to put one in right away,” he said. “Guys looked heavy in warm-ups.
“We’ve struggled against tall, physical teams all season. [Gunn’s players] weren’t afraid to use their bodies to their advantage.”
The Mustangs’ efforts didn’t result in any goals, but effort was never a question.
“I gave 100 percent and so did the boys,” Gilroy senior midfielder Andy Moya said, “but it didn’t work out for us.
“I really didn’t think this would be the end.”
Minutes after the match, Padilla reflected on what his team (12-6-6) had accomplished in an up-and-down season which featured an excellent out of league record, injuries to key players, mass player suspensions and an excellent final week of play in the Tri-County Athletic League to qualify for the playoffs.
“Overall, it was a good season,” Padilla said. “I’m proud of the guys. Nobody gave up.”
