Behind goals from Steven Mercado, Tino Granados and Andy
Hurtado, the San Benito Haybalers picked up their first victory in
Tri-County Athletic League play on Thursday with a 3-0 win against
visiting North Salinas, and rebounded nicely after Tuesday’s tough
loss.
HOLLISTER
Behind goals from Steven Mercado, Tino Granados and Andy Hurtado, the San Benito Haybalers picked up their first victory in Tri-County Athletic League play on Thursday with a 3-0 win against visiting North Salinas, and rebounded nicely after Tuesday’s tough loss.
The Balers, after battling to a scoreless tie with Palma to open league play, lost 4-0 to two-time defending league champion Alisal on Tuesday. But Thursday’s match against a winless North Salinas squad proved to be the perfect antidote.
The Vikings fall to 0-4 in the TCAL, 4-4-2 overall, while San Benito ups its record to 1-1-1 in league and 4-5-1 overall.
Mercado’s goal in the 20th minute proved to be all the Balers would need. The San Benito stopper punched in a penalty kick after teammate Oscar Estrada was dragged down in the North High box, resulting in the free attempt.
Teammate Tino Granados then made it a 2-0 game some 15 minutes later off a pass from sophomore Brian Arevalo.
Arevalo, the right mid, sent a long cross pass to the left side for Granados, who then chipped it over the approaching goalie to give the Balers an early lead before halftime.
San Benito scored early in the second half, though, when it tacked on an insurance goal in the 52nd minute. The Balers, playing within their 5-4-1 formation, switched to a 4-4-2 in the second half and sent stopper Andy Hurtado to the front.
“And he basically took it in by himself, dribbled by two guys on the left side and scored on the far post,” San Benito head coach Ramiro Ramos said.
Held scoreless in its previous two games, San Benito’s three-goal effort on Thursday were the first points it had posted since a Dec. 19 contest against Evergreen Valley.
The Balers will return to the pitch on Tuesday when they will visit Everett Alvarez (1-1-1 TCAL, 5-2-3) at 3:30 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 F
NS 0 0 0
SB 2 1 3
