GALT SHUTS OUT FRANKLIN
GALT — Gilberto Lopez played like an MVP on Friday.
The Galt High boys soccer player, plus teammate Davian Marquez, spread the scoring wealth for a 4-0 win over a Division I squad in Franklin of Elk Grove at Walker Park.
In seven games this season, Galt (6-0-1) has outscored its opponents 22-3. Two of the opponents’ goals came from River City of West Sacramento, when the Warriors posted a 4-2 win over the Raiders at the Davis Tournament on Dec. 1.
“We’re not the tallest or the biggest team out there,” said Galt co-head coach Dane White, who is sharing the coaching duties with Alfredo Renteria. “We played Pleasant Grove (on Wednesday); they are big and strong and fast. We saw that when we tried to drive the ball.”
Marquez, a forward, got the Warriors on the scoreboard in the eighth minute of the game. Racing to the soccer ball with Franklin’s Emron Gardizi, as they ran toward the Wildcats’ goal. Marquez past Gardizi to get control of the ball near the left side of the box, and booted the ball to the opposite side for a 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Lopez, a three-year starter at forward and midfielder, increased the Warriors’ lead to 2-0. Teammate Gonzalo Garcia, taking the ball after a throw-in, found an open Lopez at midfield. Stopping just short at the center of the box, Lopez took the shot that landed into the center of the net.
The Warriors’ next goal came from junior forward Juan Cruz. In the 28th minute, Warrior midfielder Ramiro Ramirez passed the ball to Cruz, who was near the center of the Wildcats’ box. Then Cruz punched the ball into the left side of the net for a 3-0 lead.
Lopez’s second goal of the game was an error that he had seconds to correct in the 56th minute, which led to the final score.
After missing a shot on goal five minutes earlier, Lopez was able to draw the Franklin goalie outside the box. As Lopez kicked the ball, the goalie dived for the ball and was able to deflect it. As the goalie laid down on the ground, Lopez hustled to the front of the ball, which went into the center of the net for the goal.
“He has incredible talent,” said White of Lopez, who did not make all-SVC last winter after making first team his sophomore year. “That kid sees the game beautifully. Now I think he understands his role in the team’s chemistry, and how he can ensure that our ball work play sets him up and the rest of the team up. He’s really leading now versus just being a successful player.”
Ramirez, along with Warrior teammate in junior midfielder Francisco Alvarez and Cruz, had shots on goal in the second half.
White feels this year’s team, which has 10 seniors back, is chopping down hard to match and exceed last winter’s success. Galt won the Sierra Valley Conference and Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV titles, and also earned a CIF NorCal playoff game.
“We’re seeing a lot of guys coming to the table now,” said White of this year’s Warrior squad. “This team, I’d say, is really growth-hungry; they want to continue to streak that we’ve been on these last few years. It’s been really cool to watch these new seniors raise to the occasion.”
Last winter, Marquez, who made all-Sierra Valley Conference last winter, led the Warriors in scoring with 25 goals. Lopez was third on the team with 20 goals.
Galt continues its presaeson schedule next week against bigger schools; Sheldon of Sacramento that is Division I and Chavez of Stockton, which is D-II.
The Warriors play Tokay in an area non-league meeting on Dec. 19.