U14 select squad wins consolation game in 17th annual
tourney
SAN FRANCISCO – The Orchard Valley U14 Boys’ Class I soccer club traveled to San Francisco this past weekend, and defeated the De Anza Force in overtime of the consolation match to finish third in the 17th Annual Golden Gate Invitational.
The Stingrays opened with a 3-2 loss to the Bullard United despite a pair of goals from Casey Mott – both coming off corner kicks. The first strike was assisted by Ricardo Plata and the second from Matt Altamirano. The Stingrays could not hold on to the lead, allowing two Bullard goals in the second half.
In an evenly played game on a short field, the Stingrays scored a late goal to defeat Marin 2-1. Following a scoreless first half, Marin scored off a corner kick when Stingrays’ keeper Kevin Grove was knocked off the ball by the United forward. With less than five minutes to play, Myles Downing gave the Stingrays hope, as he scored his first goal off a combination pass from Bryan Faulk and Plata.
Grove held up strong in net – stopping three hard shots in the second half. Halfbacks Blake Presar, Danny Nelson, and Downing played solid on defense for the Stingrays as well. The Stingrays scored the game-winning goal after Altamirano drew a foul 20-yards outside the box to set up a free shot that Plata put home.
The Stingrays were in second position heading into Sunday’s action – which began with a 1-1 tie against the DVSC Galaxy. Although Danville had defeated them earlier in the season 5-1, the Stingrays matched their strong opponents as Grove stopped 19 of 20 shots. After the Galaxy opened the scoring, late in the contest Mott scored his third goal of the tournament with a well-placed free kick. Forwards Murilo Almeida, Gerardo Murillo, Nelson, and Brendant Palomo made repeated runs, but could not get the winning score.
But the tie, coupled with a tie by Bullard, sent the Galaxy to the Championship, and the Stingrays to the consolation match against the De Anza Force. Facing their Abronzino League rival for the second time in two weeks, the Stingrays avenged their league loss with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win.
Early in the second half, Plata scored his second goal of the tournament as he was fed by a beautiful lead pass from Altamirano on a cross from Noel Vera. The Force responded shortly later with the tying goal. The Stingray defense of Eric Miller, Nick Rodriquez, Mott, and Nelson buckled down to force overtime.
In the extra session, Plata and Altamirano combined on the game-winner one minute in. Midfielder Blake Presar started the strike with a pass to Plata who then sent the ball to Altamirano for the game-winner.
The Stingrays will face the Force this weekend for the rubber match in the District Cup.
