Rust spoils showdown

Chalk it up as rust or a lack of practice time over the Christmas break, but Live Oak High's boys soccer team just wasn't as dominant as usual.

With 27 days passing since they played their last game, the Lions' timing and cohesiveness was a little off on Tuesday afternoon when they took on visiting Willows for first place in the Sacramento Valley League's One Division.

The match was far from a blowout, however, Willows senior Salvador Gonzalez's two goals proved to be the difference as the Honkers knocked the Lions from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 2-1 victory in Live Oak.

Live Oak's last game came back on Dec. 13, and with the layoff came some down time. Many players left town for Christmas and others had family obligations to fulfill, making practice time during the break short and limited.

Still, the Lions had their chances and came up just short. "We were rusty and it showed, but I don't want to take anything away from Willows," Live Oak coach Mike Owen said. "We passed the ball well, but the inability to make things happen on offense hurt us."

The Honkers (9-1-1, 3-0) got on the board first when Gonzalez drove the ball past Live Oak keeper Joel Cibrian in the 14th minute to put the Honkers up 1-0.

Live Oak (9-1-1, 2-1) equalized 13 minutes later on a pretty play that showcased the Lions' passing skills. The play started when Pedro Valencia made a beautiful cross-field pass to a streaking Armando Araujo to the left side of the net.

Araujo then lofted a nice pass into the box where Sal Vargas knocked the ball out of goalkeeper Jose Barajas' hands to tie the game.

The score didn't stay there for long though as Gonzalez scored again just before halftime in what proved to be the deciding goal of the match.

Live Oak nearly tied it up in the second half, but an offsides call wiped away a goal.

"I expected Live Oak to be physical. It was for first place and we were ready for them," Willows coach Jose Cano said. "I've got to give a lot of credit to our defense. They played great back there keeping them to one goal."

But while the Honkers took this round, the two teams will meet again Feb. 7 in Willows.

"It was a big game and it puts them in the driver's seat, but it's still early in the season," Owen said. "We still have nine games left and we'll see them again and see how it goes."