The speed-demon defense of the Hollister High boys soccer squad
held a talented Everett Alvarez team in check Tuesday as the two
teams battled to a 1-1 tie.
The speed-demon defense of the Hollister High boys soccer squad held a talented Everett Alvarez team in check Tuesday as the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie.
The Balers (1-0-1) even had a chance to startle the Eagles (4-1-1), but an own-goal by the Balers in the 78th minute enabled Alvarez to salvage the tie on its home pitch.
“We played a spirited game against a veteran Alvarez squad most pick to win the Monterey Bay League,” said Baler head coach Michael Warner.
The Eagles feature former MBL MVP Ismael Ibarra, the club’s leading scorer, and solid keeper in Eleazar Cruz. The Eagles also had five matches under their belt, while the Balers, which won a 1-0 forfeit over Del Mar on Monday, were putting their boots on for the first time in a match this year.
It wasn’t long before the Balers showed off their speed on offense and defense. On offense, strikers Isidro Trujillo and Brian Vargas, along with midhalf Jorge Lopez and center forward Nick Vandenberg applied constant pressure on the Eagles’ defense.
Baler goalie Jorge Medina did the rest as he anchored a new, yet blazing defense. Stopper Mario Zaragoza and defenders Ivan Rojas and Willie Sanchez, along with sensational sweeper Ernesto Lostanau held Ibarra to just one shot on goal.
A frustrated Ibarra took down a Baler player and received an ejection in the final minutes of the match.
With the score 0-0 at the half, the Balers peppered Cruz with some early shots in the second half. The Balers finally broke through in the 66th minute. Trujillo executed a cross which Vargas was able to foot on the far left side. Cruz bobbled the ball and the ball floated past the line. Cruz was actually charged with an own goal.
The Balers finished with an 11-5 shot advantage.
“This was a great test for our team,” said Warner. “We need to improve our two touch passing and sort out a few player positions. But overall, this was an ‘A’ game against a playoff contender.”
The Balers are at Branham High (San Jose) today at 3:30 p.m.
Junior varsity: The Baler JV’s tied 2-2. Sergio Lostanau tied the score after an Eagles goal and Hollister forged ahead on a goal by Gerardo Vaca.
“Chris Mason did an outstanding job in goal helping a young, inexperienced defense,” said JV coach Paul Bellar. “We need to find a way to light a fire under this team. We’re talented, but we need to learn how to put a team away.”
