Gilroy has been spreading its scoring around in boys soccer this
season.
Until Friday, the Mustangs hadn’t had anyone score more than two
goals in a game or 10 goals for the season.
Gilroy has been spreading its scoring around in boys soccer this season.
Until Friday, the Mustangs hadn’t had anyone score more than two goals in a game or 10 goals for the season.
That changed in a 6-1 drubbing of host North Salinas. Jose “Tapon” Velasquez came up with the team’s first hat trick this season as Gilroy stretched its unbeaten streak to 10 and moved within one win of clinching its first Tri-County Athletic League title since 2003.
The Mustangs will have two chances next week, starting Monday when they face second-place Salinas at 6pm. The Cowboys, who are unbeaten in their last seven games, downed Alvarez 2-0 Friday. Salinas and Gilroy tied 2-2 Jan. 19.
“It felt good to (get the hat trick),” Velasquez said. “We were a little nervous because the last time we played them it was 0-0 at halftime. This time it took us 15 minutes to get into the game. Once it happened (the first goal), the whole team started working well.”
Humberto Pineda had a strong game as well, setting up Velasquez’s second goal and scoring twice himself as Gilroy (12-2-4 overall, 7-0-3 in TCAL) raced to a 4-0 halftime advantage.
“It was very physical,” GHS co-coach Armando Padilla said. “We subbed out four, five guys because of the hard tackles. We’ve had a history with them of yellow and red cards and serious injuries. I think we got out OK this time.”
Velasquez got off three shots before getting his first goal 10 minutes into the game with Edgar Hernandez getting the assist.
Pineda scored the second goal seven minutes later. The senior midfielder dribbled into the box and got tackled. Pineda converted the penalty kick.
In the 27th minute, Pineda got past several defenders and passed to Velasquez, who had beaten an offsides trap. Velasquez easily beat the keeper for his second goal.
The same two worked together for the fourth goal only it was Velasquez who found an open Pineda, who split two defenders for the fourth goal of the half.
“In the past two games we’ve had a dominant first half,” Padilla said. “Then we tend to let down and not play very focused. It’s a hard game to maintain your focus for 80 minutes. The guys eventually settled down in the 20th minute.”
Midway through the second half, sophomore Bruce Ocana got his eighth goal of the season on an assist from Randy Moya. With 10 minutes left, freshman Forrest Alvarez was tackled by the goalie inside the box as the Mustangs got their second penalty kick. Velasquez converted for his 10th goal of the season.
GHS had a 20-1 advantage in shots on goal, but lost a shutout for the second straight game late. The Mustangs played without top defender Kevin Grove, who sat out with a sprained ankle. This was the first time North Salinas (2-12, 0-10) scored since its league opener Dec. 13 against Salinas.
“That was a little disappointing,” Padilla said of the Vikings’ goal. “After the game, the kids were pumped up. Now they can focus on Salinas.”
“We’re looking forward to it; we’re ready,” Velasquez said. “We want to get a league title before CCS (Central Coast Section playoffs).”
