Sequoia and Woodside boys soccer play to a 1-1 tie

By Greg Lydon

Hub Correspondent

With time running out on the 2009-10 regular season, two longtime boys’ soccer rivals gathered under the lights in search of a much needed “W” Friday night at Woodside High.

Both teams wasted little time putting a tally on the board, but after two goals in the first four minutes of play, the final 66 minutes played out without another score. 

The Sequoia boys’ soccer team came into the game needing a win to clinch a league title, but after Friday night’s 1-1 tie, the title talk will have to wait until Monday.

Woodside and Sequoia both like to push the tempo and pressure their opponent on offense, entertaining a hearty sized crowd until the final whistle.

 “It was back-and-forth all game long,” Sequoia head coach Julio Calles said. “The guys are a little disappointed with the tie.”

All the pressure coming into the key PAL league tussle was in the Cherokees corner.

The aggressive ‘Cats, who desperately need to win their final two games next week to keep their playoff dreams alive, quickly put the first-place Cherokees in chase mode.

Set-up off a foul call against Sequoia, a Woodside forward struck a bending free kick into the box.

A quick save stopped the initial shot, but an alert Fernando Salazar slipped inside from his defender position and banged home the rebound.

Woodside led 1-0 three minutes into the contest.

“Fernando has been our leading scorer all year,” Woodside coach Sal Bustos said. “He made a great play on the ball.”

Salazar, a senior captain, eighth goal of the season put the upset-minded Wildcats ahead early, but the lead wouldn’t last very long.

Not even sixty seconds had ticked off the game clock before Sequoia evened things back up.

The Cherokees pushed the ball deep into the ‘Cats end of the field and were rewarded with a corner kick.

Senior Alan Narvaez boomed the kick into the box, then watched the bouncing ball find its way behind the ‘Cats keeper.

Senior Juan Ramirez got the first head on the ball, but it was the second head shot from sophomore Jose Avalos that put the ball into the back of the net.

The game was all tied up at 1-1 four minutes into the 70-minute showdown.

Goal number three never came, but each side had plenty of chances.

Woodside’s pressure was relentless, and with less than a minute to play in the first half, the aggressive play cost Sequoia its starting keeper.

On the play, a ‘Cats forward collided hard with starting Sequoia keeper Leonardo Rosas.

Rosas never returned to the game and was replaced by senior Juan Ramirez in net.

“I don’t have a back-up goalie,” Calles said. “My back-up didn’t make grades, so I just told Juan to get in net right after my starter got hurt. I’m glad I picked him. He saved the game for us in the second half.

Ramirez hardly looked like a back-up in the final 35 minutes of play. The feisty senior flew deep out of the net and stopped a ‘Cats breakout chance in the 45:00 minute and made two other key stops down the stretch to keep things tied up, greatly impressing his head coach.

“He played so well, I really have to think this weekend about whether I start him on Monday in net,” Calles said.

Monday afternoon Sequoia travels to play second place Carlmont with the league title on the line.

A Scots win gives Carlmont the league crown. Sequoia needs a win or tie to secure the PAL  title.

“Carlmont knows they have to win so I’m expecting their best effort Monday,” Calles said. “I have to get my boys relaxed and mentally ready to play.”