The Mustang offense gets the glory, but the Gilroy defense has
shut down the top teams in the section.
SAN JOSE – The Mustang offense is a well-oiled machine that can strike in the bat of an eye, as witnessed in Gilroy’s three-goal outbursts in the first half of playoff wins over Gunn and Leland.
But the garlic defense, one in which was a question mark in the beginning of the season, is lined with the true unsung heroes of the club. With the offense exploding to three-goal leads at halftime, the most dangerous to have in soccer, the defense has not given an inch to even the deadliest attackers in the section.
They may not get the glory of a goalscorer, but junior sweeper Artemio Arteaga, as well as fullbacks Arron Thomas, Ismael Nava, and Jose Cordova, are as much a contributing factor to the team’s success than any other player.
“Ishi, Arron, Temo, and Cordova really shut (teams) down. Game after game, they’re the unheralded, unsung heroes on this team. They just come out game after game, pound it, pound it, pound it,” Coach Brian Hall said. “Those guys are gladiators. They’re our gladiators. They’re the ones in the Roman Coliseum fighting against the bulls and they never give up.”
The last line of defense for the Mustangs is senior goalkeeper Luis Esqueda, who recorded a shutout in Gilroy’s 2-0 playoff opening victory over Woodside. Esqueda barely breaks the five-foot barrier, so teams always try to put shots over his head. But that’s when Esqueda surprises the opposition with his athleticism in net.
“Every team when they see me they’re like, ‘He’s short, tip it, tip it,’ but I come out strong. I prove them wrong. I can jump. I’m short, but I can jump,” said Esqueda, who passed the credit along to his defenders. “(Leland) was pressing a lot, but our defense came up and made a lot of good stops. They kept kicking the ball out. They’re always right there.”
Esqueda, who played some forward and midfield for the Mustangs this season, is the shortest player on the team, but the defense in front of him is always looking up to taller, physical attackers as well.
“To me, it’s like it’s not how big they are. It’s like how big your heart is. We’re a very short team, but we give 110 percent and we’re focused,” Nava said. “We’re the underdogs. We’re just trying to get everybody up, try to get that championship win.”
Arteaga, the defensive captain, added: “Our defense is not made up of the sharpest players as far as skill and everything like that, but like I said before we’ve got the heart. That’s what it takes, the heart.”
The Mustangs chance for their school’s first section championship since 1991 will come on Friday night at seven o’clock when they battle top seed Watsonville at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
“I think right now we shouldn’t think of revenge, but how we play the game,” Esqueda said. “We need to concentrate on every play we do, and play strong with passion and heart.”
