Behind a pair of second-half goals from Brian Cruz and Martin
Navarro, the San Benito Haybalers leapfrogged host Monte Vista
Christian at halftime en route to a 2-1 victory in non-conference
action on Tuesday.
WATSONVILLE
Behind a pair of second-half goals from Brian Cruz and Martin Navarro, the San Benito Haybalers leapfrogged host Monte Vista Christian at halftime en route to a 2-1 victory in non-conference action on Tuesday.
The private Watsonville school jumped out to an early lead in the 30th minute, a lead that would hold until halftime, but the Balers responded in the second half with the equalizer and the go-ahead score.
Cruz’s game-tying goal came in the 45th minute — just five minutes into the second half — when he connected on a free kick from just outside the 18 on the right side.
Roughly 20 minutes later, Ricardo Roque sent a through ball to Navarro, who beat the MVC goalie to stake San Benito to a 2-1 lead.
The Balers held the lead for the remaining 15 minutes of regulation.
“The first half was sloppy, but the second half they showed they wanted to win. They showed they wanted to do it,” San Benito head coach Tony Deras said. “They were attacking, attacking, attacking. We had a lot of opportunities.”
Deras counted at least five scoring chances for the Balers in the second half alone. Meanwhile, Monte Vista Christian was limited to just one scoring opportunity in the latter half, but keeper Jose Sanchez made the stop.
San Benito improves to 2-0 with the victory, and will return to Hollister on Thursday for its home opener against Soledad. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 F
SNB 0 2 2
MVC 1 0 1
