Behind a three-goal hat trick from Brian Cruz, the San Benito
boys’ soccer team shutout visiting Salinas 4-0 on Thursday in
Tri-County Athletic League play
— the Haybalers’ third straight victory.
HOLLISTER
Behind a three-goal hat trick from Brian Cruz, the San Benito boys’ soccer team shutout visiting Salinas 4-0 on Thursday in Tri-County Athletic League play — the Haybalers’ third straight victory.
The convincing win moves the Balers (4-3-1) into sole possession of third place in the league, and perhaps proves the team’s 3-1 loss to the Cowboys (3-3-2) on Jan. 13 was a mere aberration.
But with only two automatic postseason bids awarded to the TCAL, and with the league’s “B” status making an at-large berth rather unlikely, the Balers still have work to do in order to earn a top-two spot and reach the playoffs.
First and second place in the league currently belongs to Gilroy (6-1-0) and Alisal (6-2-0), respectively. Those two teams squared off on Thursday night in Gilroy, where the visiting Trojans handed the Mustangs a 2-0 loss — a result that doesn’t particularly help San Benito.
The Balers still have another crack at both teams, though, with Gilroy visiting Hollister next Wednesday, and the Trojans doing the same the following Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Thursday’s win over Salinas, meanwhile, keeps the Balers in the postseason discussion.
“We played our game from the start until the end,” said San Benito head coach Tony Deras, who was rather pleased with his team’s performance on Thursday.
The Balers’ two-goal lead at halftime came rather quickly, as Cruz scored two of his three goals in the first half — one in the 25th minute and another in the 27th minute.
J.J. Santoyo set up the first goal off a pass from the right side, but Cruz deposited the second goal by himself after several attempts on net were either blocked or deflected by the Salinas defense.
“He got the loose ball and, after about four shots, scored the goal,” Deras said.
In the second half, Ivan Martinez dribbled half the field before finding the back of the net for an unassisted score in the 58th minute, while Cruz connected on the hat-trick goal off a free kick from about 40 yards out in the final five minutes of regulation.
It was a different story on Jan. 13, of course, when Salinas jumped out to a three-goal halftime lead en route to an easy victory.
The Balers will now set their attention on Gilroy Tuesday at home. Match time is 3:30 p.m.
San Benito previously lost to the undefeated Mustangs by a 2-1 margin on Jan. 20.
“Like I tell the boys,” Deras said, “‘One step at a time.'”
TEAM 1 2 F
SALN 0 0 0
SANB 2 2 4
