There will be a lot of green and red this week and next. No,
it’s not a post-Christmas mad dash at Mervyn’s. But maybe the games
should be observed as holidays.
The matchups between San Benito and Live Oak will set the tone
in the Tri-County Athletic League for the team that wins.
While the team that loses will be looking up and will have a
tough time overtaking the other for a shot at the league title.
The rivalry begins this week when the boys and girls soccer
teams clash in what should be some intense and competitive
games.
There will be a lot of green and red this week and next. No, it’s not a post-Christmas mad dash at Mervyn’s. But maybe the games should be observed as holidays.
The matchups between San Benito and Live Oak will set the tone in the Tri-County Athletic League for the team that wins.
While the team that loses will be looking up and will have a tough time overtaking the other for a shot at the league title.
The rivalry begins this week when the boys and girls soccer teams clash in what should be some intense and competitive games.
The Balers and the Acorns girls soccer teams tied at 2-2 in the first meeting last year, but the Acorns recorded a 4-0 shutout in the second game.
The tie was the first time anyone can remember tying the Acorns – a team that has been so dominant in the league, rarely even allowing a goal. But this year, the Balers are hoping for what could be their first win.
Both the Acorn and the Haybaler girls soccer teams have played 10 games in the preseason. They both have four wins, but Live Oak has one more tie and one less loss.
“It will be a tell-tale game,” said Baler coach Mike Schurig. “If we win, we know we are doing a lot of the right stuff. If we lose, we got more work to do.”
Both teams are coming into the game healthy, the coaches said.
“We feel like we have a good chance to win,” Schurig said. “We’re prepared, so we just have to see how prepared we are.”
The Acorns are coming off a 1-1-1 finish in the Tri-Valley Classic held over the weekend at Berkeley.
The extra work after the holiday may pay off for the Acorns against the Balers, who played their last game Dec. 16.
“The girls have played some tough teams in the preseason,” said Acorn coach Tony Vasquez. “I made our schedule as hard as possible to get them ready so we could face anybody and feel comfortable going into any game.”
The Acorns have played in a lot tighter games this year than the Balers have.
They have pulled out wins against tough competition like Presentation, Valley Christian and Santa Cruz.
The Balers have doubled the offensive output of the Acorns (26-13) but have allowed twice as many goals as the Acorns (19-8).
“They scored more goals, but you have to look at who they are playing,” Vasquez said. “We have shut down some of the best teams in CCS. It is hard to judge the stats. I am interested to see how this team will do against Hollister, who will bring it to us. They’re scoring a lot of goals, so their confidence is up.”
“The biggest thing in our favor is that they are not scoring a lot,” Schurig said. “Even though our defense is looking good, that could take some pressure off of us.”
An important factor that may come into play for both the boys and girls teams is the condition of the fields. There is only a slight chance of rain, but the fields haven’t had much time to dry out.
“We can’t use some of the one-on-one soccer skills and can’t dribble through people like we would normally,” Schurig said.
Last year, the San Benito boys soccer team lost both its games to Live Oak, 2-0.
Live Oak jumped on the board early, but Baler boys coach Mike Warner hopes that will be different this year.
“We’re going to go with some new schemes and try to take advantage of some of the speed we have and really try to push the play,” Warner said. “We’re going to start more defensively and try to clog the middle up on them a little more. We’ll try to transition into the offense from there.”
The game should be a tight game that will be decided by a goal or two.
“We are probably equally matched up,” said Live Oak coach Tony Goble. “It will come down to the team that makes the most of its opportunities. We’ll both create opportunities in front of the goal. The one who puts those chances away will come away with the win.”
Although Gilroy and Live Oak have solid teams this year, Warner expects Live Oak to be the team to beat.
“They are better equipped to play together as a team,” Warner said. “We really don’t have a local travelling youth team like they have over there. Most of their starters have played together for a couple years, while we have to build a new team from the JV and varsity players. That is what we have to overcome every year.”
But the Balers do have some talented players this year who have the speed to give some teams fits.
“We have the caliber of players, but we just don’t have the system in place that some of the other teams have yet,” Warner said. “That is not really what the high school is after. We want it to be a good experience for all the kids who come out to play not just the club players.”
Hussan Abdullahi, one of the twins on the Live Oak team, broke a couple bones in his leg last spring and is not at full strength, Goble said. The Acorns are also without one of their top forwards A.J. Battel – who is out because of his school attendance records.
The Balers may be without top forward Jonathan Alonso, who still has a sore knee.
Next week, the basketball teams square off also. The boys game will be a battle of two of the strongest teams in the Tri-County Athletic League and two of the stronger teams in the section as well.
Last year, the Acorns got it done with guys like Drew Pearson and Maciek Bratkowski, who stood at nearly seven feet tall. And having league MVP Miles Curley didn’t hurt as well.
But this year, the fates are reversed because it is the Balers who have the height now with Kyle Sharp, Anthony Butler and Jason Sims.
The Acorns have been led by guys like guard Joel Wright, who turned in an extensive offseason workout routine and can drain a three pointer any time. Steve Conner, the quarterback for the school’s football team, hasn’t won a game on the football field in the last two years. But he is a competitor who hates to lose. His intensity has earned him a spot in the starting lineup.
Next week will also mark the first time former Baler coach Richard Silva will be facing his former team. Stay tuned. It should be fun.
