SALINAS
The San Benito Haybalers are, unfortunately, becoming all too familiar with the one-goal defeat.
In their last six games, San Benito is 1-5 with all five losses coming by one goal. And Thursday’s game at Everett Alvarez was no different.
Eagle Diego Lara pocketed the game-winner in the 60th minute Thursday en route to a 2-1 victory over San Benito, which falls to 2-7-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 5-11-1 overall.
The ‘Balers had previously tied Alvarez 1-1 on Jan. 13, and had previously held the TCALs leading scorer in Hugo Gonzalez scoreless as well.
But Gonzalez put the Eagles (5-2-4 TCAL, 6-9-4) up 1-0 in the 35th minute Thursday when he scored his 19th goal of the season.
“Right down the middle,” San Benito head coach Ramiro Ramos said. “I had one of my guys stay on him the whole game. But I think they had something else planned.”
The ‘Balers managed to tie the game at 1-all shortly thereafter, though, when Andres Hurtado’s shot ricocheted off the Alvarez keeper and back to sophomore mid Ivan Martinez.
Martinez was able to get a shot off in the 39th minute from just inside the 18-yard line.
“Two of their defenders kicked and missed it,” Ramos said of Martinez’ shot. “I don’t know if the ball had a weird spin on it or what.
“But it was a back-and-forth game. We had about three clear breakaways in the first half that we should have put in the back of the net … But they’re not used to that turf.”
With a light rain making for an even slicker playing surface, Ramos noted that his players had a difficult time adjusting to the turf field. And on those breakaways in the first half, San Benito would give a hard touch on the fast surface and lose control of the ball.
Lara’s game-winner in the 60th minute, though, was a bit of a worst-case scenario for San Benito, Ramos said.
A loose ball heading toward the ‘Baler net was about to be corralled by keeper Edgar Fernandez. But Fernandez, on his pursuit of the loose ball coming toward him, cleated his ankle and tripped over the ball.
Fernandez managed to push the ball away, but two Alvarez attackers were trailing and punched in the go-ahead score.
San Benito will look to rebound Tuesday when they host Salinas at 3:30 p.m., the final home game of the season for the ‘Balers.
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