San Benito has trouble scoring again against Palma
Hollister – In its first five games of the non-league portion of the season, the San Benito boys soccer team managed just three goals.
The Haybalers finally broke through with five goals in a blowout win over a strong Soquel team Monday and thought their scoring problems were done.
That wasn’t the case Wednesday as despite controlling the ball for most of the Tri-County Athletic League opener against Palma, San Benito couldn’t turn opportunities into goals in a 1-0 home loss to the Chieftains.
“It’s frustrating because the whole season we’ve been up there but we can’t put the ball in the net,” senior captain and defender Christian Mercado said. “We thought we were over the hump after the 5-1 (win over Soquel). Everybody was motivated and everybody wanted to play and win and score. But we play a lower level team, not as strong as Soquel, and we always play the same level of the other team.”
The Chieftains wasted little time in taking the lead as Silvano Botta fed a pass to Ross Majewski in the second minute of the game for a 1-0 Palma lead.
“That was pretty big,” Botta said. “We practice to score first.”
The early goal played right into the hands of the Chieftains’ strategy and they turned their focus to defense the rest of the way.
“We played really good defense,” Palma senior defender Luke Paulo said. “That’s our focus. Starting well is really important.”
San Benito kept the Chieftains’ offense at bay the rest of the game – they managed only one other shot on goal – but it failed to mount many serious scoring threats.
One stretch in the 16th minute provided the ‘Balers their best opportunity when Efrain Espinoza streaked toward the goal and beat the goalkeeper but couldn’t direct it toward the net.
Eddie Trujillo then controlled the ball and fed it to Omar Bravo, but he slipped on the muddy surface while trying to get off a kick and Palma regained control.
San Benito’s Colin Kay had a pair of late opportunities, but a shot in the 71st minute went high and in the 78th minute his strong kick went right to the goalie to keep Palma on top.
“We can be there and we can dominate the game but if we don’t score, we’re not going to win,” Mercado said.
San Benito now has to turn its attention to Friday’s 6pm game at rival Gilroy, who expects to contend for the league title.
“That’s an even tougher game, they’re the toughest team in the league,” Mercado said. “We’re just going to have to play hard and try to get the ball in the goal. As long as we get one in there, we get motivated and (the goals) keep coming.”
