Catriona Adam, who scored both goals, works the ball around a

Coach Tony Vasquez knew before the game was over that he had a
good chance to go on to face Leland, his brother John
’s team, in the Central Coast Section Division 1 semifinals. But
it was not to be.
Coach Tony Vasquez knew before the game was over that he had a good chance to go on to face Leland, his brother John’s team, in the Central Coast Section Division 1 semifinals.

But it was not to be.

No. 9 seeded Live Oak (12-8-2) lost 3-2 to No. 1 Santa Teresa after battling through regulation and into a shootout, which the Saints won 4-3.

“That is one of things about soccer that is kind of cruel,” Vasquez. “It doesn’t always mean the best team wins. Let them keep playing until they win. On that day I felt we were a better than them. It was good to see our team compete and play with the No. 1 team in CCS.”

Santa Teresa (16-1-3) had the slight advantage when it came to the penalty kicks because the team had worked on shooting PKs in practice and because they had lost a game earlier in the year on penalty kicks.

“It is hard to practice PKs when you have to do it on the turf,” Vasquez said. “It is so tough to practice for the crowd and emotions. It is all mental. All I ask is they go up there and do their best, and they did.”

Janae Pimental, Michelle McDonald and Gina Estrada all made their kicks. Goalie Ashley Garcia came up with a big save for Live Oak.

Christina Adames missed wide left. Gina Sanders, who had to come out because of an injury late in the game, shot hers wide left. Selina Arechiga chipped in the winning shot for Santa Teresa. The ball hit the cross bar and caromed in for the win.

“You got to give it to your seniors,” Vasquez said. “When Gina went to plant, her knee gave out. It is nerve wracking kicking in front of that many people.”

Adam had a couple attempts at goal early in the second half – one on a cross she shot wide and another on a play she was offsides on – and then got one in in about the 48th minute.

Gina Estrada headed a Santa Teresa goal kick, and Adam hit the inside corner just past the goalie on a pass from Adames.

The Saints answered right back on the following possession with a free kick that bounced off the far post and into the net. Santa Teresa scored what appeared to be the game-winner at the end of regulation. But Live Oak wasn’t done.

Four minutes later just before the final whistle blew, Adam hit her second goal. The Acorns didn’t hear the final whistle blow seconds later because of the excitement emanating throughout the team.

“The referee told me that if one their players hadn’t tried to waste time by tying her shoe the game would have been over,” Vasquez said. “From my angle it looked like the shot missed.”

Santa Teresa lost four players to injuries during the course of the game.

“Obviously Live Oak came to play,” said Santa Teresa coach Anna Thomas, who lives in Morgan Hill. “They brought a big game and came ready to play and wanted it as bad as anyone else. That is the beauty of playing in CCS. You have to bring your whole game. It was a little frustrating because we didn’t feel we played our best game.”

So how do you go after a top-seeded team?

“We just wanted to play them straight up,” Vasquez said. “When Dana Johnson and Judy Coffman had the ball, we just shifted down and put more pressure on them. We didn’t try to double team them. They are good players, and they will get their chances. But for the most, part we shut them down.”

Live Oak freshman Jamie Hickie received a red card in the second half for allegedly pushing a Santa Teresa player as Hickey was falling down.

“That wasn’t a red card,” Vasquez said. “I’ve seen a lot worse fouls than that. It was just a foul. Play on. The ref was out of position. He ran for 100 minutes, and he was tired.”

With Hickey out, some of the players were not able to get the rest they needed from the warm Salinas sun.

“She was playing well,” Vasquez said. “She was rotating with each of the forwards to give them a breather. It definitely affected the subbing situation.”

The turf at Salinas High was tough for some players to get used to.

“It is hard to prepare for the speed of the turf after playing on grass all year,” Vasquez said. “A lot of the seniors weren’t really sad about losing because they played their hearts out. It was a bitter-sweet ending.”

Live Oak has faced Santa Teresa five times in the last three years, and Saturday’s game was the first time the Acorns have scored a goal.

“It has been the most challenging season since I’ve been assistant and coach at Live Oak,” Vasquez said. “From when we started to now, it was two different teams. This team was more prepared (than last year’s). This team was more of a team. We went through so much pain and had so many ups and downs.”

After a tough preseason, the Acorns were able to build confidence by going undefeated in league and winning the title.

“At the end we were going in with so much confidence,” “Vasquez said. “I was shocked we lost.”

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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