As the season winds down, Gilroy High’s boys soccer team is
experiencing a bit of a freefall.
Losing both of its last two games 3-0, the most recent coming
Tuesday to visiting Palma, the Mustangs (10-5-5 overall, 3-4-5
league) are in danger of missing the Central Coast Section playoffs
for the first time in three years.
GILROY – As the season winds down, Gilroy High’s boys soccer team is experiencing a bit of a freefall.
Losing both of its last two games 3-0, the most recent coming Tuesday to visiting Palma, the Mustangs (10-5-5 overall, 3-4-5 league) are in danger of missing the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time in three years.
Just making the playoffs, however, would be small consolation if team dynamics don’t improve. A total of 12 players were suspended from Tuesday’s match after violating team rules, coach Armando Padilla said, requiring several junior varsity players to be pulled up just to play the game.
“If we would have won (Tuesday’s) game we would have been tied for second (in the Tri-County Athletic League),” Padilla said. “But it was important to make a statement (to the players).”
Padilla wasn’t allowed on or near the field for the contest after receiving two yellow cards in a Jan. 29 loss at Alvarez. The result was a red card and automatic ejection from the match, which then carried a suspension over to the next game.
The first card Padilla received was due to arguing with a yellow card being given to senior midfielder Bruce Ocana. It was Ocana’s second of the game. The referee, who Padilla said was suspended from officiating future matches following the game after pushing the GHS coach when handing out the coach’s first card, gave Padilla a second card when an Alvarez player notified the ref that GHS sophomore forward Jorge Sanchez was wearing a necklace that is prohibited according to section standards. The bench, or coach, is given a card instead of the player in such instances.
“It was a religious necklace,” Padilla said. “At the same time, all kids have to know they have to take those things off.”
Were it not for a strong 6-2-3 record in the preseason, Gilroy would have little chance of qualifying for the playoffs, which start in a little more than a week.
“Because we had such a great preseason … we do have extra power points, which should help us (qualify for CCS`),” Padilla said. “As far as an automatic berth, I don’t think so.”
Gilroy is currently in fourth place in the TCAL. Results from Thursday’s match at Salinas were unavailable as of press time.
