The Sequoia boys soccer team defeated the visiting Carlmont Scots 1-0 Friday afternoon. This victory not only brought defeat to the PAL-Bay Divison leaders but also brought a huge boost to the Cherokee squad after a tough loss to Hillsdale on Wednesday. With the victory, Sequoia (7-5-1, 4-3-0, 12 points) pulled to within one point of first-place Carlmont (8-3-2, 4-2-1, 13).
“Coaching these boys makes me so happy. I’m proud of every single one of them,” Sequoia head coach Julio Calles said. “They came out and threw a great performance. That was my frustration on Wednesday. They underestimated [Hillsdale] and that is the biggest mistake you can make, but today, they came ready to play.”
After a scoreless first half when goal attempts on both sides of the field couldn’t seem to find their way through the goalposts, Sequoia’s Bryan Calles fired in a free kick that slipped barely through the outstretched arms of Carlmont goalkeeper Zach Wooster. A final tap-in from Nicholas Polati propelled the ball the final couple of feet needed to put Sequoia on the board.
“I’ve done it three times and a lot of people say it’s luck but on the first kick from far, I always make the goalie come out to see if he has good hands and today he couldn’t catch it,” Calles said. “He dropped it and the ball went in.”
Sequoia goalkeeper David Valdivias was challenged most in the last 10 minutes of the match up as attempts from the Scots came left and right, but they proved unable to break through.
“You have to stay focused and have a lot of confidence as you play,” Valdivias said.
Added Calles: “We’re lucky we have great goalies. They give more than 100 percent.”
PAL-Bay play picks up again on Monday as Sequoia hosts Westmoor (4 pm) and Carlmont visits Menlo-Atherton (5:30 pm).
