Tigers cruise in preseason match
Tokay High’s girls soccer team dominated pace and possession on Wednesday, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Monterey Trail in a non-conference matchup at the Grape Bowl.
The Tigers needed just two minutes to put the ball in the net when Paola Valencia broke through the Mustangs’ offside-trap defense, where the defenders play high in an attempt to catch the other team’s players too far downfield, and scored on a one-on-one shot.
“We try to work the offside trap as a team,” Tokay coach Sam Gonzalez said. “Sometimes they’re going to catch her off and sometimes they’re going to make it, but I always tell the girls, if they play offside, play with them, and when you’re making a run, just keep running but run back onside, and if we get that ball through, you’re going.”
Tokay worked that plan against an out-matched defense all 80 minutes, taking 30 shots to Monterey Trail’s three. Valencia scored once, Alexia Garcia added another in the 15th minute off a Monique Rodriguez pass, and Sophia Casciaro scored twice later in the game.
“I actually feel pretty good compared to last year. The girls have shown me they’ve grown a lot, and they’re calmer with the ball,” Gonzalez said. “They’re finding that next player on our team, so I’m actually pleased with the way they’re playing. “
The Tigers (3-2-1) kept Monterey Trail goalkeeper Jackie Catano busy — the junior finished with 12 saves, many of them in one-on-one situations after Tokay strikers beat got behind the defense.
Casciaro scored her first goal in the 36th minute, taking the ball down the left sideline. She sidestepped one defender, then crossed over another near the corner before working her way inside and slotting the ball between Catano and the near post.
“Usually if it’s 1-v-1, (Gonzalez) wants us to take them on,” Casciaro said. “So I beat her, so I was like, eh, one more, so I took her on, and then I just went to the goal. So we have kind of a green light, yeah, if it’s one girl.”
Tokay went into halftime without allowing a shot — the closest the Mustangs (2-3-1) came was on a corner
kick at about the 30th minute that bounced around inside the box before going out of bounds.
All the action in the second half was at the beginning, with Casciaro scoring a long goal in the 42nd minute — she collected a ricochet off a Monterey Trail defender and sent a low line drive into the net from about 30 yards out.
The Mustangs responded almost immediately, with Obioma Onejeme floating the ball over Tokay goalkeeper Katie Price from the top of the box for Monterey Trail’s only score.
Price finished with one save, and Kennedy Hobbs saved one after coming on for Price late in the game.
The Tigers dominated control throughout the game, with most of the play taking place on Monterey Trail’s side of the field.
“We have a system of play, and instead of always playing forward, we’d sometimes play back, and we spread out so that way we’re not all bunched up,” Casciaro said. “When we spread out, it gives us time to maneuver the ball around and attack them.”
Gonzalez said possession is one of the big things he’s worked on with his players.
“That’s what I’m trying to get them to do, is be more calm when we’re under pressure. That’s one thing we’re looking at when we’re in games and in practice,” the first-year head coach said. “Obviously there will be teams out there that will have more pressure on us, but we have to start somewhere to build up. So the girls are slowly getting it, but we still have a lot to go.”
It only gets tougher from here — after a two-week break, the Tigers open league play at St. Mary’s on Jan. 13. In the spring, the Tigers went 0-15 in Tri-City Athletic League play. That’s something Tokay is hoping not to repeat.
“It’s going to be a tough league going into it, because they’re going to be faster than our girls or the same speed,” Gonzalez said. “Our league is a little bit harder. This team right here (Monterey Trail) would probably be at the bottom of our league.”