Rival boys soccer teams Sobrato and Live Oak met last Thursday in BVAL Santa Teresa action and for the second time this season they tied, this time 2-2 in the final game of the season for both teams.
“I feel like that’s how it’s supposed to be because if you think about it, we’re seniors and they’re seniors,” said Live Oak senior Kyle Vandenbrandhorninge, “We both want to remember our last game as seniors. And we don’t want to remember us losing to our rival. So its better that we tie than one of us losing.”
Sobrato controlled the first half with center mid and captain Christian Ramirez having the lone goal.
The Bulldogs took that 1-0 lead into halftime.
To start off the second half, Live Oak's Chase Vandenbrandhorninge scored on a penalty kick.
Said Chase's brother Kyle: “There was a foul outside the goal on Alexis Diaz. And every time there’s a PK, Chase makes it 10 out of 10 times. Absolutely no doubt about it; every single time I’m like ‘Chase, take it now.’ I don’t want anyone else taking it. He isn’t confident in himself, but I know he could do it. He never stresses out. He hits it… in! I know I felt overjoyed and so much excitement because we just tied it up 1-1. I am like ‘Alright we’re still in this.’ They’re our rivals and we haven’t won a game all season, but we got this.”
Minutes later, Alexis Diaz scored the go-ahead goal for Live Oak.
“I came out first half not being too happy with my job out there," Diaz said. "I came back and I was like you know what this is my last game I’ll ever play in high school and I have to give it my all. I went out and I went out hard. I went out with a goal, so I was pretty happy about that. Cristian (Ukanwa) set me up; he set me up at the half. I took three or four guys and then I put it past the keeper into the net. I can’t even explain how I felt. I was very pumped up.”
With less than 20 minutes to go, Live Oak was unable to hold Sobrato. Bulldog senior Kevin Montano scored the tying goal.
“I was warming up on the bench when the coach called my name," Montano said. "I just came out from resting and I was a little surprised. I usually don’t play forward, but I guess he wanted to try it out. I go in and the first play I see, they just bounce it up there to me and I managed to shake my defender off. I see the ball go in the goal and it’s a little surreal. Like I can’t believe that just happened. My senior year at my senior game against Live Oak with all the people… It still hasn’t hit me. I was just standing there. I didn’t know what to do so I just started celebrating.”
Added Live Oak coach Anthony Martinez: “I feel good about it. I guess this is the only team we’ve tied though. It’s better than a loss."
Neither Sobrato (3-11-5, 3-7-4 BVAL-ST) or Live Oak (1-15-3, 0-12-2) had records lofty enough to qualify them for the Central Coast Section playoffs.
