Spectacular Santa Maria goal ends Arroyo Grande’s playoff run
After pulling off thrilling wins in its first two playoff games, the Arroyo Grande boys soccer team couldn’t duplicate the come-from-behind magic Wednesday night.
Santa Maria’s Gabino Montano’s first-half goal gave the Saints a 1-0 win and ended Arroyo Grande’s season.
Arroyo Grande coach Eliseo Romero said his team came out a little nervous against the Los Padres League champs, and Santa Maria took advantage by creating most of the attacking chances in the first half.
On a cross in the 23rd minute, Montano took the ball off his chest, turned and blasted the volley into the top left corner past Elijah Herrea, the hero from Arroyo Grande’s win last round over Corona Del Mar.
Spectacular goal by Santa Maria's Gabino Montano. Saints up 1-0. 17 left. pic.twitter.com/hn0v243QZ8
— Travis Gibson (@TravisDgibson) February 25, 2016
“Beautiful goal. It can’t be any better than that. If they are going to beat you with that,” Romero said with a shrug. “He’s a stud player.”
While Santa Maria was the aggressor in the first half, the Eagles came out attacking in the second led by the skillful touches of midfielder Matthew Bautista.
On a run midway through the second half, the shifty junior went down in the penalty box on a long run. Romero, and every fan wearing blue and gold, wanted a penalty kick and a chance to tie.
Surprising no call as Matthew Bautista goes down in the box. What do you think? Bautista got a yellow for dissent. pic.twitter.com/Nd4OCZvqfp
— Travis Gibson (@TravisDgibson) February 25, 2016
“Definitley a (penalty kick),” Romero said. “He had possession in the box. It was a complete take down. It’s just unfortunate, but you can’t cry about it. It’s gone.”
Arroyo Grande did draw a handful of free kicks and a couple of yellow cards in the final 15 minutes. But the Santa Maria defense pushed everyone it could behind the ball to hold on for the win.
Joseph Goryance with a run at the goal that goes begging. Still 1-0 Saints. About 20 left. pic.twitter.com/nfzB9Uw9YC
— Travis Gibson (@TravisDgibson) February 25, 2016
“They are good, but we have played a lot better before so it’s a bummer that we lost,” said senior Elijah Herrera, who finished with four saves. “It was a pretty good year, but I didn’t do as good as I thought I could, as I hoped.”
Arroyo Grande (16-8, 9-5 PAC 8) will look towards next season, when the Bautista brothers and Matthew Sill are expected to return. But the Eagles will miss seniors Cesar Diaz on defense and all-around player Joseph Goryance.
Santa Maria will play either Salesian High or Chaffey in the quarterfinal Friday.
This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 7:54 PM with the headline "Spectacular Santa Maria goal ends Arroyo Grande’s playoff run."