Hollingsworth, Pirates put accent on win

Luke Hollingsworth doesn’t look like any of his Wheatland High soccer teammates.

The junior forward doesn’t sound like any of his teammates either.

Well, except for his twin brother, Tim, who patrols the back line as sweeper. Both sport an accent from their English homeland, and only the white headband Luke wears marks any obvious difference between them.

More importantly for the Pirates (2-0) on Tuesday, no one played like Hollingsworth, who tallied all the Wheatland scores in a dominant 3-1 nonleague win over visiting Rio Vista.

Hollingsworth’s favorite score of the day was the first.

“The volley, I think,” Hollingsworth said.

It was the most striking of the three goals and came 12 minutes into the game, and with the Pirates playing into a stiff crosswind.

The play started with a throw-in and quickly moved to the center of the field and on to the foot of senior midfielder John Griffin, who threaded a splendid pass through two Rio Vista defenders and into the path of Hollingsworth.

The ball took a knee-high bounce and Hollingsworth drilled it into the back of the net with his left foot for a 1-0 lead that held up to halftime.

Rio Vista coach Dustin Delarosa said having to play catch-up, even when down by a single goal, was tough with the windy conditions.

“It’s tough when you are going against the wind,” Delarosa said. “So when we got down, I think they put their heads down a little.”

Delarosa said his team had only five practices heading into the game, and the lack of time of the field certainly showed.

“We bunched up way too much. We gave them way too much space,” the coach said.

With the wind at their backs, the Pirates attacked relentlessly.

Wheatland, which had four shots on goal in the first half, peppered Rams keeper Jara Valente with 12 in the second half.

Hollingsworth’s second tally came six minutes into the half, a little clean-up work on a shot by Anthony Giles that the keeper did not secure.

The Pirates went up 3-0 12 minutes later. Again, Giles got the assist, but the opportunity was created by a lackluster defensive effort.

“I think they gave up on themselves a little,” Delarosa said of his club.

Part of the Rams’ discouragement must be credited to the Wheatland attack, which came from all angles.

Hollingsworth, who came to Wheatland three years ago, said he is excited about the year ahead.

“I think this is the best team Wheatland has had,” Hollingsworth said.

Pirates coach Rusty Gordon, who took over late last year and is in his first full season, likes what he sees with the team as well, but said there is plenty of room for improvement.

“They have to learn to play 80 minutes, not 78,” Gordon lamented after his defense surrendered a goal to Rio Vista’s Nathan Ceschin, who had five of the Rams’ six shots in the game.

Gordon said the team also is learning to play a different style of game from previous years, too.

“And I think they are taking to the passing game,” said Gordon, who was concerned that using the long pass to break down defenses also takes too much out of the attacking players.

“We have improved. They are a good group. They are willing to work,” the coach said.