TOKAY, TRACY BATTLE TO SCORELESS TIE
Opening the offense wider created more shots on goals for the Tokay High boys soccer team against Tracy in Tuesday’s Tri-City Athletic League contest at the Grape Bowl.
But the Bulldogs bit back on defense. And when Tracy had the ball, Tokay’s defense put the pressure on its visitors.
The end result was a 0-0 draw that places Tokay (1-0-1 in the TCAL, 3-2-2) and Tracy (1-0-1 in the TCAL, 6-1-2) into a tie for second place behind Lincoln (1-0), which entertains Tokay on Thursday.
Tokay stretched out the field in the final 40 minutes of the game, moving forwards and some midfielders to the outside. That created more passing between Tiger players, and toward the end of the game, looked like the strategy would result in a goal with four shots on goal, and five in the game.
“Spread them out,” said Tokay coach Ruben Gomez of his team’s halftime discussion. “But we needed to spread out a little bit more.”
Two of the four shots on goal came off the feet of Tiger midfielder Mathew Salas. On his first attempt at the 65th minute of the game, Salas made a dash to the ball, and booted a shot that went to the side of the cage. Salas’ second shot on goal came at the 69th minute on a 20-yard line drive toward the Bulldogs’ net that went over the top of and out of bounds.
“We thought we played pretty good,” Gomez said. “We had some good chances. I’m disappointed we didn’t finish toward the end.”
Seven minutes later, Tracy’s Jaime Medal broke free from the Tigers’ pressure defense for a shot on goal. However, the ball went out of bounds and Tokay took possession.
Tokay had an opportunity with two corner kicks halfway through the second half. But Tracy players responded with taking the ball up to midfield and subtracting the Tigers’ offensive efforts.
“That was another one,” Gomez said. “All you need is some reflection. We practice those.”
On defense in the final 40 minutes of the game, the Tigers’ attack, led by Ivan Rosales, Michael Valencia, Salas and Leonardo Ruiz, forced the Bulldogs to move the ball to the sides that usually went out of bounds or Tokay possession when a Tracy player was marked up.
The same story started in the first half for both teams. Tokay defenders Jason Murgia, along with Alejandro Andrade and Nicolas Monteon, kept Tracy’s offense away from the box for the of the half. At the 25th minute of the game, the Bulldogs’ Jesus Flores had a penalty kick, but the ball went over the bar of the cage.
Tokay had one shot on goal in the first half. Tiger halfback Osbaldo Dominguez, after battling the ball with a group of Tracy players near the Bulldogs’ box, made an attempt to register his team’s first goal. That shot, too, was met by Tracy goal keeper Daniel Monarrez, who dived for the soccer ball and booted back to midfield.
“We were almost kicking from the same spot,” Gomez said.
Tokay returns to league action at Lincoln on Thursday. Gomez feels that the top three teams won’t be decided until the first part of February, when league plays comes to an end.