Mustang kickers shut down North Salinas in 3-0 home win.
GILROY – The Gilroy High boys soccer squad could be playing for the league championship on Tuesday against Live Oak.
But an Acorns’ win over Palma yesterday erased any chances of a Tri-County Athletic League banner for Gilroy – which severely hindered its title run back on Jan. 21 when they finished in a scoreless tie with North Salinas.
So even with a Feb. 11 rematch against neighboring rival Live Oak fresh on their minds, the Mustangs (7-1-1 in T-CAL, 11-5-3 overall) had more immediate action to take with Thursday’s return match against North Salinas.
“Before the game, we talked about that we needed to come out with intensity,” said sophomore midfielder Alfonso Motagalvan, who registered a goal and assist in a 3-0 shutout win over the Vikings. “We wanted to beat these guys because of what the did – because we tied them last time we couldn’t get the league title.”
So instead of playing for the league title, the Mustangs – who drew nine cards from one referee Jan. 23 during their 2-1 home loss to Live Oak – are playing for pride and playoff position against the first-place Acorns (9-0 in T-CAL).
“I want to beat them bad. It’s going to be a good game. We lost our heads last time, but we learned from our mistakes,” said senior co-captain Horacio Arteaga, who was just as thrilled to notch a ‘W’ in his final home game. “We’ve been playing really well with intensity and without attitude. The guys really help each other out. We’re like a family. We are a second family.”
The Gilroy family took care of business against the Vikings this time around as Arteaga opened the scoring with the only first-half strike. Freshman midfielder Ben Alcantar started the play by sending a through ball to junior teammate Javier Hernandez – who chased down the ball, touched it past the sliding goalie, and then dished to Arteaga for the goal.
“When we played them the first time, we really had problems with the field. It was a really bouncy field. We had our opportunities last time, but we played selfish,” head coach Albert Marquez said. “Today on the first goal if Javi is selfish, he would not have played the ball to Horacio for an open goal. Nobody was being selfish today.”
After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Mustangs came out in the second half looking for some breathing room. They got it when Motagalvan scored in front off a second rebound. On a corner kick, junior striker Jorge Plata sent the ball into the box. After a touch by Hernandez and then a close range blast by senior fullback Scott Martin were thwarted, Motagalvan found the back of the net to give Gilroy a 2-0 lead.
Keeping up the pressure, the Mustangs netted a third insurance goal when Hernandez scored off a cross from Motagalvan.
“It feels good to beat a team that we tied earlier and beat them convincingly,” said Marquez before shifting his attention to Live Oak. “Live Oak and Gilroy are the two best teams in the league. Live Oak will be ready to play us. They are a very good team. They are well-coached. They have an excellent defense. It’s just going to be a battle.”
The battle begins at 3:30 p.m. in Morgan Hill and the Mustangs are seeking vengeance.
“It’s going to take participation from the whole team. We win as a team and we lose as a team,” Motagalvan said. “We have to go out and play hard and play as a team.”
