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GOING, GOING . . . . -- Griffing goalie Joan Voss leaps to stop Juan Alfredo Abuawad's first half goal Jonatan Muñoz, InternationalLate goal by Sanchez
Knights edge Eagles 3-2
By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning
The Cambridge boys varsity soccer team beat Christian Learning 3-2 in an exciting defensive battle Thursday during which the lead see-sawed back and forth between the two teams.
The game, which was played on the International field because Christian Learning's was too wet to play on, started off with many good attempts from both teams.
The scoring started with a good shot by Cambridge's Martin Pacor, who came in from the left side and blasted the ball into the right corner.
Not long after, Eagle Alex Apodaca took a great shot from just outside the goalie box that bounced off the right post. Not a minute had passed before Esteban Eguez was given a great pass, and he shot it right past the Cambridge goalie, tying the game up at 1-1.
Later, a diving header from Danny Canaviri of Christian Learning was barely blocked. The first half ended 1-1.
The Eagles started strong in the second half, getting many shots off, but Cambridge goalie Juan Manuel Salas would not let any get past. At the other end of the field the Christian Learning goalie, Alejandro Garcia, also made many great saves, one off of a sharp shot from close in, and then a jump to catch a high ball deflected toward the goal on a corner kick.
A foul by Christian Learning on Pacor in the goalie box led to a penalty shot by Knight star Junior Sanchez. He nailed it, making the score 2-1 for the Knights.
Soon after, an Eagle free kick that bounced around in the goalie box was kicked into the goal by Eguez, for his second goal of the game. The score was then tied at 2-2.
Both teams had very good defense, and one shot by Christian Learning from right in front of the goal was blocked, not by the goalie, but by one of the defenders. There was also a near-goal on a corner kick by the Eagles, but the Eagles couldn't seem to get the ball past the defense of Cambridge.
Meanwhile, Cambridge's Sanchez tried several times to take the ball through the entire Eagle defense, as he had several times the week before against Cooperative. Time and again the Eagle defense stripped the ball from the Knight forward, who was clearly feeling frustrated.
But finally, with about two minutes left, he succeeded, scoring on a strong shot after somehow getting the ball past two Eagle defenders who sought to block his way.
The Eagles tried to battle back, and two close shots were blocked by the Cambridge goalie. When the dust settled, the score stood at 3-2 in favor of Cambridge, giving the Knights sole possession of first place.
Knights edge Eagles 3-2
By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning
The Cambridge boys varsity soccer team beat Christian Learning 3-2 in an exciting defensive battle Thursday during which the lead see-sawed back and forth between the two teams.
The game, which was played on the International field because Christian Learning's was too wet to play on, started off with many good attempts from both teams.
The scoring started with a good shot by Cambridge's Martin Pacor, who came in from the left side and blasted the ball into the right corner.
Not long after, Eagle Alex Apodaca took a great shot from just outside the goalie box that bounced off the right post. Not a minute had passed before Esteban Eguez was given a great pass, and he shot it right past the Cambridge goalie, tying the game up at 1-1.
Later, a diving header from Danny Canaviri of Christian Learning was barely blocked. The first half ended 1-1.
The Eagles started strong in the second half, getting many shots off, but Cambridge goalie Juan Manuel Salas would not let any get past. At the other end of the field the Christian Learning goalie, Alejandro Garcia, also made many great saves, one off of a sharp shot from close in, and then a jump to catch a high ball deflected toward the goal on a corner kick.
A foul by Christian Learning on Pacor in the goalie box led to a penalty shot by Knight star Junior Sanchez. He nailed it, making the score 2-1 for the Knights.
Soon after, an Eagle free kick that bounced around in the goalie box was kicked into the goal by Eguez, for his second goal of the game. The score was then tied at 2-2.
Both teams had very good defense, and one shot by Christian Learning from right in front of the goal was blocked, not by the goalie, but by one of the defenders. There was also a near-goal on a corner kick by the Eagles, but the Eagles couldn't seem to get the ball past the defense of Cambridge.
Meanwhile, Cambridge's Sanchez tried several times to take the ball through the entire Eagle defense, as he had several times the week before against Cooperative. Time and again the Eagle defense stripped the ball from the Knight forward, who was clearly feeling frustrated.
But finally, with about two minutes left, he succeeded, scoring on a strong shot after somehow getting the ball past two Eagle defenders who sought to block his way.
The Eagles tried to battle back, and two close shots were blocked by the Cambridge goalie. When the dust settled, the score stood at 3-2 in favor of Cambridge, giving the Knights sole possession of first place.
Vasquez scores twice
Jaguars prevail 3-1 over Griffins
The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team ground out a 3-1 win over International Thursday in a high-energy game where both team's goalies were given plenty to do.
International scored first when a free kick by Griffin Daniel Baldivieso popped loose from the grip of Jaguar goalie Rafael Mansilla, the goalie's only major miscue of the afternoon. Baldivieso, it needs to be said, has demonstrated a knack for firing shots that pop out of goalies' hand. The tall Griffin forward seems to be able to put some extra torque on the ball.
Cooperative evened the score a short while later when Juan Alfredo Abuawad cut loose a long shot from the right side of the goal that got to the upper left corner before Griffin goalie Joan Voss could.
The half ended with the score 1-1.
The action started at a fast and furious pace in the second half -- and didn't let up. Coop came close twice, with one shot hitting the crossbar. (International had hit the bar once in the first half.) Another shot bounced over Voss' head, but the Griffin goalie was able to get back quickly and swat the ball away with his fully extended left arm just as it was about to break the plane of the goal.
International was not letting any grass grow under its feet either, and at one point a Griffin attacker broke all the way through the Jaguar defense, only to shoot wide of the goal.
The tie was broken when Jaguar Jose Manuel Vasquez artfully arced a shot from about 20 meters out on the left of the goal that went well over Voss' head and into the goal on one bounce.
The Griffins poured on the pressure at this point, keeping the ball in the Jaguar end and challenging goalie Mansilla with shot after shot.
It was almost dark at this point, and the lights were on. Smoke from a fire in a nearby lot rolled over the field creating a strange atmospheric that gave the game the feel of a battle scene.
Then sudddenly Cooperative was able to lift the siege and clear the ball upfield. Vasquez was once again to be the man of the moment as he took possession a little past midfield and scampered toward the goal, pausing hardly at all to let loose a huge shot that ripped into the right side of the net, putting the Jaguars ahead 3-1.
The Griffins did not go quietly into the smoky night, and remounted their attack in the closing minutes. A free kick by Griffin Mario Rohrman was right on target, but Mansilla once again was there to gather it in.
Cooperative didn't sit on its lead either, and got off two good dangerous-appearing attacks that were thwarted by Voss.
Jaguar Coach Orlando Taja was elated by the outcome. "I was proud of my team," he said. "They played with resolve."
The Griffins, who are the defending champions, now have a tie and a loss on the year, bringing to mind the 0-3 start Cambridge had last year when that team was the defending champion. Could there be a championship "jinx?" That's just one of many questions to be resolved when Cambridge and International clash next week. Cooperative plays at Christian Learning.
