When the make-up boys’ soccer game between Gilroy and Palma was moved from Thursday to Wednesday, apparently nobody told the referees.
So when it became apparent there would be no game officials in Salinas yesterday, coaches Armando Padilla of Gilroy and Scott Corner of Palma decided to do it themselves.
With GHS co-head coach Brian Hall refereeing another game, no coach was left on either team’s sideline.
“We both agreed we wouldn’t coach during the game, so we weren’t able to really make any adjustments until halftime,” Padilla said. “It made for a weird situation.”
Even weirder? After yielding just four goals all season, Gilroy gave up three against the 7-8 Chieftains..
Nevertheless, the Mustangs posted seven of their own and beat Palma handily, 7-3.
The Chiefains (2-4 TCAL) actually got on the board first, but GHS quickly responded with a Juan Llamas goal to tie the score at one.
Assist-machine Ben Alcantar helped out on that goal, along with the next one to Alfonso Motagalvan. Later in the half, Alcantar got a goal of his own, with an assist from Humberto Pineda.
Right before halftime, though, Palma pulled back within one with a goal against a usually stalwart defense.
“The defense let us down a bit today,” Padilla said. “There was just a lack of discipline back there.”
Alcantar, already with one goal and two assists, added another score to start the second half. Motagalvan followed that up with his second goal as well, giving the ‘Stangs a 5-2 lead.
The Chieftains scored again on a corner kick, but Gilroy (11-2-1/4-1) was able to put the game away with goals from Jose Velasquez and Everardo Diaz De Leon, who also added a pair of assists.
“We made some errors on defense, but fortunately for us, we were able to overcome those mistakes and get the win,” Padilla said.
If the Mustangs are eager to sweep the season series from the Chieftains, they won’t have to wait long.
Gilroy hosts Palma at Mustang Stadium Saturday. Game time is set for high noon.
