Gilroy’s boys soccer coaches had been waiting to exhale. After
the last couple games, the team has now given them ample reason as
the Mustangs’ play of late has been a breath of fresh air.
Gilroy’s boys soccer coaches had been waiting to exhale. After the last couple games, the team has now given them ample reason as the Mustangs’ play of late has been a breath of fresh air.
Gilroy improved to 7-2-2 on the season by winning its second game in a row Monday, defeating Valley Christian 3-0 at home. The victory advanced the team into the quarterfinals of the Homestead Christmas Cup, a tournament that has been running since the season started. The Mustangs are 4-1 in Cup play and will take on Lincoln today at 5:30 p.m. at Yerba Buena High School.
“The last few games, things are really starting to fall together for us and basically it was a total team effort,” GHS co-head coach Brian Hall said. “Every player on the team got a chance to play and every player gave us something special to get this result. It was kind of nice because we’ve been struggling to score, but we’re really developing a nice rhythm on the field.
“Every player is stepping up and contributing something, whether they’re playing 2 minutes or 80 minutes,” Hall added.
Gilroy got off to a quick start by scoring in the second minute of the match. Josh Gonzalez won the ball on the left flank and advanced past several defenders through some nifty passing between himself and Bruce Ocana. Ocana, who took the ball from Gonzalez down to the end line then served into the box to Oscar Zuniga, who one timed a shot on goal. Valley Christian’s keeper was in the correct spot, though, and deflected the shot. Zuniga, seeing opportunity knock twice, one-timed another shot, this time finding nothing but net.
The Mustangs had several scoring chances follow shortly after, but they couldn’t capitalize, forcing the team to go into halftime up 1-0.
In the 8th minute of the second half, Zuniga was fouled from 40 yards out on the right side of the field, allowing the Mustangs to attack in a set piece. Zuniga sent a crisp service into the box, finding Randy Moya for a header to give Gilroy a 2-0 lead. It was Moya’s second goal with his head in as many games.
Ricardo Enriquez put the game completely out of reach in the 30th minute, heading a corner kick by Gonzalez inside the near post to seal the match in Gilroy’s favor.
Two days earlier, Gilroy pulled out a much closer game by beating Richmond 2-1 in the final match of the De La Salle College Showcase.
Playing on a narrow field due to the amount of games going on at the Showcase, sweeper Kevin Grove was able to toss a throw-in deep enough into the field to set up a Clemente Pineda header for the first goal of the game.
Brothers Andy and Randy Moya hooked up for the second score, when Andy sent a free kick from 40 yards out high enough for Randy to drive the ball down with his head to beat the keeper.
In the final 20 minutes, Gilroy allowed a preventable goal, according to hall, but strong backline play gave Gilroy the victory.
“I give our boys credit, Kevin Grove and Eric Miller and Adolfo Aldana, those three guys really stepped it up the last 15, 20 minutes of the game for us,” Hall said. “They came up big.”
Miller was named to the All-Tournament team.
The Mustangs play of late has been crisp, which has Hall thinking his players are starting to understand how to play with one another.
“We’re starting to play like the championship team of last year,” he said. “They’re playing simple and they’re moving the ball well. We’ve had one of the most difficult preseason schedules we’ve ever played, so, it’s probably just taking a little time for us to get on the same page. We’re hoping that the boys keep playing as a team.
“And if they do that, we’ll be successful.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Morgan Hill
Playing a game less than 24 hours after defeating archrival San Benito 4-0 Friday, Gilroy came out a bit flat against Live Oak the next morning.
The Mustangs lost a non-league match to the Acorns 2-0, dropping Gilroy’s record to 3-3-2 on the season.
The defeat, while disappointing, was understandable considering the conditions. Playing for 80-plus minutes in 40-degree weather the night before, Saturday’s match was a quick turnaround. Live Oak was also undefeated at 4-0-1 coming into the contest.
Goalkeeper Lauren Bertero had five saves for the Mustangs, limiting Live Oak to a score in each half, and Gilroy took 10 shots on goal.
The outcome shouldn’t affect the Mustangs too much as they move forward. The team has now begun its Tri-County Athletic League schedule, which is spotless at 2-0. Gilroy will have one more non-league game at Los Gatos on Dec. 22 before resuming TCAL play in the new year.
The Mustangs will host their annual alumni game on Dec. 28.
