Senior forward Alejandro Castillo scored two goals and the San Benito boys soccer team scored its first win in the Tri-County Athletic League on Thursday when they defeated host North Salinas 2-0 on the road.
The Haybalers, which had lost three of its last four contests, including their first two games in the TCAL, went all-out on the attack to open the contest on Thursday.
The offensive strategy paid off, as San Benito took a two-goal lead into halftime. Head coach Ramiro Ramos then pulled back with a defensive approach in the second stanza en route to the 2-0 victory.
"We went a little heavy in the first half," Ramos said. "I put all my artillery in there."
And it paid dividends early. On an assist from Ivan Martinez, who was recently called up from the junior varsity, Castillo pocketed his first goal of the day in the 10th minute.
Then, less than 20 minutes later, a lob pass from Luis Gonzalez found the laces of Andres Hurtado, whose shot on net was stopped by the Viking keeper.
Castillo, though, found the back of the net on the rebound to put the 'Balers up 2-nil at the 27th minute.
Ramos said he implemented a 4-3-3 with Martinez at the mid, Hurtado at stopper and Steven Mercado at center forward, and the formation opened up the field and made it easier to create offensive plays.
"But they're still having trouble adjusting to the turf," Ramos said.
North Salinas, and every other team in the TCAL, for that matter, plays on a faster-paced artificial turf field.
"I think if they played on natural grass," Ramos added, "they would have done a lot better."
Nevertheless, San Benito picks up its first league win, and improves to 1-2 in the TCAL, 4-6 overall.
"It builds their confidence up," Ramos said of the win. "It can help them."
The 'Balers will battle Everett Alvarez (1-1-1 TCAL, 4-6-1) at home on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 F
SB 2 0 2
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