Despite a 1-1 game at halftime, the San Benito boys’ soccer team
was unable to keep host Alisal off the scoreboard in the second
half, as the three-time defending league champs pocketed the
go-ahead goal in the 65th minute en route to a 2-1 victory over the
Haybalers on Wednesday.
SALINAS
Despite a 1-1 game at halftime, the San Benito boys’ soccer team was unable to keep host Alisal off the scoreboard in the second half, as the three-time defending league champs pocketed the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute en route to a 2-1 victory over the Haybalers on Wednesday.
Trojan Johnny Cruz’s goal snapped a 1-1 game late in the second half to lift Alisal to the win, and drop San Benito to 1-3-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 7-3-2 overall.
Alisal took a 1-0 lead within the first 10 minutes of regulation when the Balers knotted the game at 1-all before halftime.
San Benito’s Brian Cruz delivered the equalizer in the 30th minute off a free kick from just outside the 18. But a back-and-forth game between the two teams carried the 1-1 score well into the second half, when Alisal finally found the game-winner with roughly 15 minutes remaining in the game.
The Trojans are now 5-1-0 in the TCAL, 7-5-2 overall.
“It was a really even game, a balanced game,” San Benito head coach Tony Deras said afterward.
Although the Balers were coming off their first league victory against Palma on Monday, Deras said the play of Wednesday’s game against Alisal was better than San Benito’s previous loss — a 2-1 defeat at Gilroy last Thursday.
“With Gilroy, it was a different story,” Deras said. “Against Alisal, we played our game … We were pressuring them and attacking them.”
For what it’s worth, Wednesday’s victory was the tightest league win for Alisal this season. The Trojans have defeated each of their TCAL opponents by at least two goals or more.
As for the Balers, they’ll visit Everett Alvarez on Friday at 5:15 p.m., before kicking off the second half of their league schedule on Tuesday at North Salinas.
TEAM 1 2 F
SANB 1 0 1
ALIS 1 1 2
