The San Benito boys soccer team needed a big game against North
Salinas on Friday and got it with plenty of scoring and a superb
defensive effort.
The Balers (4-5-2, 1-1-1 TCAL) came into the game banged up from
a tough match against Gilroy on Wednesday but shut out the Vikings,
6-0.
The San Benito boys soccer team needed a big game against North Salinas on Friday and got it with plenty of scoring and a superb defensive effort.
The Balers (4-5-2, 1-1-1 TCAL) came into the game banged up from a tough match against Gilroy on Wednesday but shut out the Vikings, 6-0.
North Salinas (4-5-1, 1-2 TCAL) nearly beat Live Oak earlier in the week and was looking to prove their third-place ranking was not a fluke.
Senior Jonathan Alonso opened the scoring for the Balers on a header from a nice cross by senior Alfredo Arredondo at the 19-minute mark.
“He (Alonso) continues to create offense and score for us,” said coach Mike Warner.
Each team had several opportunities to score before Ernesto Lostanau slipped a ball by the Salinas Viking goalkeeper on a cross from senior Luis Vazquez to increase the lead to 2-0 at the half.
In the second half, the Balers applied constant pressure and scored early and often. Seven minutes into the half, Vazquez scored on a through ball from sophomore Arturro Ceja. Vasquez outran the defenders and placed it in the near side of the net for a 3-0 lead.
Tony Fuentes scored on a beautiful sideline run with the assist going to Arredondo. Ernesto Lostanau added his second goal of the game and third of the season. He scored on a perfect free kick into the box by Jorge Lopez.
And finally, the Baler defense was rewarded when keeper Jorge Medina converted a penalty kick at the 75-minute mark. The Balers were awarded the PK when Sergio Lostanau was pulled down in the box on a nice end run.
Medina recorded his second league shutout and fourth overall in eleven games.
“Our defense played an outstanding game again for us.” Warner said. “They continue to improve, and the team has supreme confidence in them to keep us in the game.”
