Small mistakes can often turn into enormous errors against good
teams, and the San Benito Haybalers learned first-hand on Thursday
against visiting Alisal.
HOLLISTER
Small mistakes can often turn into enormous errors against good teams, and the San Benito Haybalers learned first-hand on Thursday against visiting Alisal.
“Tiny mistakes,” San Benito interim head coach Matt Andrade said.
Leading 1-0 at halftime, San Benito was unable to play flawless football in the second half against the Trojans, the two-time defending Tri-County Athletic League champions. Alisal deposited the equalizer within the first five minutes of the second stanza, then grabbed the eventual game-winner 10 minutes later en route to a 3-1 victory in Hollister.
“The kids played great today and they played aggressive against one of the best teams in the league,” Andrade said. “But there are still a lot of little things we need to work on.”
It’s San Benito’s fourth straight loss since opening the TCAL with a 2-1-1 record. The Balers are now 2-5-1 in the TCAL and 5-9-1 overall.
Meanwhile, Andrade’s interim title has been effective since Monday’s game against Palma, when he took over the head coaching position from Ramiro Ramos.
Although details of the situation are unclear at this time, Ramos’ absence from the varsity sidelines follows charges alleging seven felony counts of taking and receiving wages of a worker. Ramos is one of four executives at San Andreas HVAC accused of taking kickbacks from employees working with the company on public works projects that require prevailing wages.
Andrade, along with assistant coach Patrick Nolan, found out Monday at noon they’d be coaching the varsity boys soccer team.
The two new coaches nearly pulled the upset over Alisal on Thursday, too. Baler Brian Cruz put San Benito up 1-nil in the 25th minute off a free kick, a score that would hold until halftime.
However, Alisal tied the match in the 45th minute off a Benjamin Nunez goal — just five minutes into the second half. Nunez then scored the go-ahead goal in the 58th minute when he beat two defenders on the left side and punched it in far post from 18 yards out.
“Our plan was to just attack and not sit back, put pressure on them,” Andrade said. “And we did a pretty good job of that in the first half.
“In the second half, they got the first goal in the first five minutes and that shocked us a little bit.”
San Benito certainly had its chances to convert the equalizer, though. Taking advantage of the high winds, Andy Hurtado nearly hooked in a corner kick, while teammate Ricardo Roque’s shot from just inside the 18 sailed high.
Later, on a free kick from 35 yards out, Steven Mercado drilled a shot to the far post that nearly hooked in, but fell just wide right.
Alisal then pocketed some insurance in the 76th minute when Johnny Cruz received a cross pass from the left side and punched in the Trojans’ third goal.
“Miscommunications and guys playing where they were not supposed to be,” Andrade said of the goal, which came off a quick free kick by the Trojans that caught San Benito off-guard.
The Balers will look to snap their streak on Tuesday when they will visit North Salinas at 3:30 p.m. San Benito previously defeated the Vikings by a 3-0 margin on Jan. 14.
Look for more details later.
TEAM 1 2 F
ALIS 0 3 3
SANB 1 0 1
