Hollister had two different one-goal leads over Gilroy on
Saturday in a Tri-County Athletic League boys soccer match at Andy
Hardin Pitch, but the Mustangs tallied a late goal to win 3-2.
They had them, but they couldn’t hold them.
Hollister had two different one-goal leads over Gilroy on Saturday in a Tri-County Athletic League boys soccer match at Andy Hardin Pitch, but the Mustangs tallied a late goal to win 3-2.
The irony of it all for the Balers (6-5-1, 3-4) is that in, perhaps, their best performance of the season resulted in a loss which most likely eliminated them from the Central Coast Section playoffs.
If one were to do the math, the Mustangs (10-5-3, 5-1-1) would have to lose to Live Oak, North Salinas and Palma, while the Balers have to defeat North Salinas, Salinas and Palma in its last three matches to take second place. The Mustangs have already lost to the first place Acorns and tied the Vikings, but they defeated the Chieftains 3-1 on the road on Jan. 17. Gilroy can clinch second place and the league’s last automatic berth with a victory over the Chieftains at home on Tuesday.
This high-quality match, which was played up in the air much of the time, may have been preserved by the brilliant goalkeeping of Mustangs junior Oscar Garcia. With the score tied 2-2 midway through the second half, a direct kick from the Balers Daniel Laguna caused problems in front of the Mustangs’ net. An initial Baler shot was punched by Garcia. The ball rolled to Garcia’s right where the Balers Pablo Andrade was waiting like a lotto winner ready to cash in his ticket. Andrade’s quick up had goal written all over it. But, out of nowhere came Garcia to take one on the head and preserve the tie.
“Things could have been different if we score there,” said Baler head coach Michael Warner.
The half moved on with each team exchanging threats. Not long after a Mustangs shot on goal from a direct went outside the box, the dynamic duo of sophomore Evev Diaz Deleon and junior Javier Hernandez struck for the game-winner. Diaz Deleon centered the ball to the middle and Hernandez somehow left-footed a shot past Baler goalie Jorge Medina despite having a defender draped all over him. The shot came in the 77th minute.
It was the second goal for Herrnandez, who had tied the match 2-2 in the 36th minute.
“Javier has been on fire lately,” said Mustangs coach Albert Marques. “I haven’t seen anyone playing better in the league right now.”
“We would have been happy to get out of here with a tie,” said Warner. “We were trying to slow the attack down because Gilroy was so good at countering. That’s what happened.”
The Balers didn’t take long to get on the scoreboard. Ernesto Lostanau, who was switched from defense to midfield to start the match, scored in the third minute on an up from Laguna off a direct. Fifteen minutes later, Diaz Deleon put home the equalizer for the Mustangs and the match was on. Defender Danny McFaile had to be credited for making the initial forward march.
Brian Vargas’ wonder in the 28th minute put the Balers back on top 2-1. Vargas found the ball about 25 yards out and sailed one over the head of Garcia.
“It was an awesome shot,” said Marques, who made halftime adustments to double-team Vargas. “Garcia couldn’t do anything about it.”
The Balers ran into some tough luck on the Mustangs’ second goal, the first from Hernandez. Medina twisted an ankle at approximately the 35th minute and had to be replaced by Laguna. Hernandez’ shot was a liner, which went directly at Laguna. Laguna had his hands on it, but the ball deflected and went directly behind Laguna. Laguna scrambed as fast as he could, but he couldn’t prevent the ball from rolling into goal. Medina relieved Laguna at the start of the second half.
“It was unlucky,” said Baler midfielder Gerardo Lostanau, who had a brilliant match. “Their goalie saved that goal or else we could have won.”
That’s the way the ball, as well as the Balers’ season, bounced.
Baler bits: The Balers hosts a good North Salinas team Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. – Garcia, who had eight saves, prevented another Baler goal when he batted out a great shot from the outside by Jorge Lopez. – For the match, Gilroy outshot Hollister 17-14. – Hollister played without Elias Barocio, who separated his shoulder in practice last week. It was the 11th time Barocio has separated his shoulder. He is scheduled to have surgery soon and is lost for the remainder of the season. – Gilroy played without one of its top players, Jorge Plata, who was suspended for five days.
JV score: Gilroy 2, Hollister 1. Jaime Torres scored for the Balers.
