The San Benito boys soccer team opened up the season Monday with
a 2-1 home loss to perennial powerhouse North County.
Both teams had numerous opportunities to score, but the Condors
capitalized on their opportunities.
The San Benito boys soccer team opened up the season Monday with a 2-1 home loss to perennial powerhouse North County.
Both teams had numerous opportunities to score, but the Condors capitalized on their opportunities.
“We just had a couple lucky bounces,” said North County coach Sergio Marquez, who is used to scoring several goals per game. “We just wanted to see who showed up for us. The teams are pretty compatible. Hollister has lots of potential.”
The Balers got their only goal of the game in the first half from sophomore Jamie Torres. Torres made a nice run down the field and put a move on the defender. He kicked the ball into the far left side of the net to tie the score.
“I sprinted as hard as I could and got a good look at the goal and took the shot,” Torres said.
The Condors got the lead right back shortly before the half ended.
San Benito had a good chance to tie the game again on a nice cross from Sergio Lostanau to Torres, but the Condor goalie came up with a nice sliding save.
The Balers had a couple good attempts in the second quarter as well.
Ernesto Lostanau headed a ball ahead to Jesus Ramos, who passed it off to Alfredo Arredondo. But Arredondo’s shot was high.
With about a minute to go, Lostanau was taken down just feet to the right side of the box.
Arredondo had a goal attempt, but the goalie was able to get a hand on it to knock it out of bounds and force the corner kick, which the Condors cleared.
“The kids played a good game,” said Baler coach Mike Warner. “We had a couple kids out with the flu. We had a lot of open shots. Now we just have to work on finishing.”
JV Note: The San Benito JV team lost to North County 6-3 after being tied 2-2 at the half. The Balers started off strong with two goals from Joel Aguilar within the first eight minutes against a formidable North Monterey team.
However, North County went on a 6-1 run during the next sixty minutes. Alfredo Ortega scored in the game’s closing minutes with a quick slap on a ball off the shins of North Monterey’s goalie. The Balers had strong defensive play from Jose Carlos Vasquez and Jose Diaz and midfielders Ramon Orozco and Christian Mercado.
