MHS boys 'back pedal' into win

Diego Casillas seemed to have eyes in the back of his head as he saved the day for the Monache boys soccer team.

Casillas no-look pass that set up Hector Robles for the game-winning goal with about two minutes left in regulation broke a 1-1 tie and sent Monache to a hard-earned 2-1 win over Granite Hills on Friday at Rankin Stadium.

Granite Hills coach Luis Espino put it best when he said, “It’s the team that capitalizes at the end. 

“That’s the team that wins.”

From about 30 yards out and with his back to the goal, Casillas sent the ball forward with the back of his foot to Robles, who broke free and sent the ball into the right corner of the net to give Monache (4-0 in the East Yosemite League) a 2-1 lead.

Despite the heartbreaking play at the end, Espino was still pleased with his team’s effort. “This is probably one of the best games we’ve played all year,” Espino said. “We gave Monache a good game.”

And even though the game may have been closer than expected, Monache assistant coach Eric Romero was also pleased with his team’s effort. “We did very well,” Romero said.

Before Casillas’ game-winning play, Monache had two excellent chances to break the 1-1 tie. Robles sent a ball forward to Jonathan Vasquez, who had broken free, but Granite goalie Ulyses Mijes came out to deny Vasquez. 

“He really stepped up in the goal,” Espino said. “He saved us a couple of times.”

Monache later almost took the lead again when Robles sent the ball forward to Gerardo Rodriguez, but the shot by Rodriguez bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Monache took a 1-0 halftime lead when Robles cross the ball across the goal box and Rodriguez was there to put it in. Granite tied the score 1-1 when Jorge Nunez broke free for Granite, forcing Monache goalie Marco Vieyra to come out. Nunez sent a ball that deflected off of Vieyra and Nunez was able to gather the rebound and send it into the open net.

MONACHE GIRLS 2, GRANITE HILLS 1

Monache was able to overcome Granite’s goal in the first 30 seconds of the game as Naomi Hernandez scored both goals for Monache (2-2 in the EYL). Granite took the ball to begin the game and went right down the field where Angelica Reyes was able to cross a pass to Gabby Ayala, who was open in front of the net. Monache goalie Jordan Canale was able to come out to make the initial save, but Ayala shot eventually found the net to give Granite a 1-0 lead.

Debra Rodriguez showed off her strong foot for Granite (2-2 in the EYL) as she sent a long ball from the far right side to in front of the goal, but Canale came out to grab the ball in the air. Moments later, Hernandez scored on a breakaway to force a 1-1 halftime tie.

The game-winner came when Yvette Lopez sent a ball forward to set up another Hernandez goal.

“They held their composure,” said Monache asssistant coach Eddie Alvarado about how his team responded to giving up a quick goal. “They didn’t panic. They kept playing well.”

“We gave them a run for their money,” Granite Hills coach Gabe Rodriguez said,

Rodriguez said he was pleased with how his team stood up against Monache, a Division II school. “That’s a good team right there,” said Rodriguez about Monache. “They’re a really good team. We look big picture here at Granite and at Granite we’re a Division V school.” 

Diego Casillas seemed to have eyes in the back of his head as he saved the day for the Monache boys soccer team.

Casillas no-look pass that set up Hector Robles for the game-winning goal with about two minutes left in regulation broke a 1-1 tie and sent Monache to a hard-earned 2-1 win over Granite Hills on Friday at Rankin Stadium.

Granite Hills coach Luis Espino put it best when he said, “It’s the team that capitalizes at the end. 

“That’s the team that wins.”

From about 30 yards out and with his back to the goal, Casillas sent the ball forward with the back of his foot to Robles, who broke free and sent the ball into the right corner of the net to give Monache (4-0 in the East Yosemite League) a 2-1 lead.

Despite the heartbreaking play at the end, Espino was still pleased with his team’s effort. “This is probably one of the best games we’ve played all year,” Espino said. “We gave Monache a good game.”

And even though the game may have been closer than expected, Monache assistant coach Eric Romero was also pleased with his team’s effort. “We did very well,” Romero said.

Before Casillas’ game-winning play, Monache had two excellent chances to break the 1-1 tie. Robles sent a ball forward to Jonathan Vasquez, who had broken free, but Granite goalie Ulyses Mijes came out to deny Vasquez. 

“He really stepped up in the goal,” Espino said. “He saved us a couple of times.”

Monache later almost took the lead again when Robles sent the ball forward to Gerardo Rodriguez, but the shot by Rodriguez bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Monache took a 1-0 halftime lead when Robles cross the ball across the goal box and Rodriguez was there to put it in. Granite tied the score 1-1 when Jorge Nunez broke free for Granite, forcing Monache goalie Marco Vieyra to come out. Nunez sent a ball that deflected off of Vieyra and Nunez was able to gather the rebound and send it into the open net.

MONACHE GIRLS 2, GRANITE HILLS 1

Monache was able to overcome Granite’s goal in the first 30 seconds of the game as Naomi Hernandez scored both goals for Monache (2-2 in the EYL). Granite took the ball to begin the game and went right down the field where Angelica Reyes was able to cross a pass to Gabby Ayala, who was open in front of the net. Monache goalie Jordan Canale was able to come out to make the initial save, but Ayala shot eventually found the net to give Granite a 1-0 lead.

Debra Rodriguez showed off her strong foot for Granite (2-2 in the EYL) as she sent a long ball from the far right side to in front of the goal, but Canale came out to grab the ball in the air. Moments later, Hernandez scored on a breakaway to force a 1-1 halftime tie.

The game-winner came when Yvette Lopez sent a ball forward to set up another Hernandez goal.

“They held their composure,” said Monache asssistant coach Eddie Alvarado about how his team responded to giving up a quick goal. “They didn’t panic. They kept playing well.”

“We gave them a run for their money,” Granite Hills coach Gabe Rodriguez said,

Rodriguez said he was pleased with how his team stood up against Monache, a Division II school. “That’s a good team right there,” said Rodriguez about Monache. “They’re a really good team. We look big picture here at Granite and at Granite we’re a Division V school.”