Backup goaltender Willie Sanchez played a solid game for the
Baler boys soccer team Thursday in place of injured Jorge Medina to
help the Balers defeat visiting Monta Vista Christian 4-1.
Medina was injured on the first goal of the game but stayed in
the game until shortly before the second half when he left with a
stiff neck. But it was not too stiff to keep him on the bench for
long. He came in late in the second half to play forward, but he
wasn’t able to get any shots off despite being fed by his
teammates.
Backup goaltender Willie Sanchez played a solid game for the Baler boys soccer team Thursday in place of injured Jorge Medina to help the Balers defeat visiting Monta Vista Christian 4-1.
Medina was injured on the first goal of the game but stayed in the game until shortly before the second half when he left with a stiff neck. But it was not too stiff to keep him on the bench for long. He came in late in the second half to play forward, but he wasn’t able to get any shots off despite being fed by his teammates.
Coach Mike Warner expects him to play today against visiting Alisal. The game will be moved back to the regular field, Warner said.
Playing on the smaller of the San Benito soccer fields against Monta Vista, the Balers scored four goals in the second half.
“We just caught fire in the second half,” Warner said. “It was almost as if we decided to play. Monta Vista played well. They put a lot of pressure on in the second half.”
Defender Kevin Vieirra took Sanchez’s spot on defense and played a solid game for the Balers (3-4).
Ernesto Lostanau scored the first goal for San Benito. Jamie Torres was credited with the second on an own goal. Alfredo Arredondo put in the third goal on a nice curving shot from the left side.
With just minutes left in the game, Tony Fuentes scored the last goal. Fuentes was racing in with his defender and kicked the low shot into the back of the net.
“It was a blazing shot – one of the best of the year,” Warner said. “I am real happy for him because he didn’t get to play last game. He started and finished the game. All the guys were saying that it was the best shot of the year.”
Note: Foreign exchange student Fausto Andrade was supposed to be cleared to play Wednesday for the Balers, but the team has not received the final clearance from the Central Coast Section and doesn’t know when it will.
JV NOTE: The Balers (3-3-1) broke out of their scoring drought with a stellar 2-1 victory over Monta Vista Christian High.
Both scores were put in by Armando Espinoza. The first goal came in the 34th minute off a cross from Eduardo Trujillo. And the second came halfway through the second half.
Defense was the key to the Baler victory. Defensemen Jose Carlos Vasquez and Ramon Orozco and goalie Jose Valdez frustrated the visitors time and again. Monta Vista’s only score was off a well-placed penalty kick.
