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Sol
Grants No Asylum to Albuquerque
But Drops Big One to Sacramento Over Weekend
July 4,
2005 Sonoma County Sol was active this past weekend, defeating the
Albuquerque Asylum on Friday by a score of 3-0, then dropping a close one
2-1 to the hard charging Knights in Sacramento.
In their
third meeting of the year, #1 ranked Sonoma County Sol finally defeated the
fifth ranked Asylum for the first time. In fact, they finally scored a goal
against the New Mexicans. Up until last Friday, Albuquerque had gone 1-0-1
and held Sol scoreless, but Sol made it up with the best offensive output
since the 4 goal game against San Diego on May 28th.
The game
started with some disorganization in the back as Asylum had two chances
within the first 5 minutes. One opportunity was a breakaway that was stopped
by goal keeper Derek
Shaffer and the second was a low shot from right in front of the
goal that just kissed the outside of the post on Shaffer's left. After
that, the defense tightened up and the midfield, under the generalship of
attacking center midfielder
Brad Yuska, started playing some very
attractive soccer stringing together several series of offensive thrusts by
way of the short passing game. The first goal came in minute 14 when Yuska
passed to Miguel
Santoyo who scored a beautiful goal with a hard shot from the
left side of Asylum goalie Jason Maestas. The ever elusive
Trevor Hurst
followed up with another goal within a minute with a ball stolen from an
Asylum defender that left Hurst one on one with the keeper.
Michael Asaro
followed up in the 86th minute with a beautiful unassisted goal of his own.
After the
first 5 minutes, Sol had the run of the match, taking 24 shots to 15 for the
visitors. In getting the shutout, Shaffer had to make only 3 saves compared
to 8 for Maestas. The result was another 3 points for the league leading
Sol giving Sonoma a total of 32.
On Saturday,
Sol went on the road for the short trip to Sacramento to play the surging
Sacramento Knights. A large raucous crowd awaited Sol on a warm night at
Consumnes River College. Sacramento brought attitude and desire to this
game, while a number of Sol players who have been out of action for a while
were making a comeback.
Sacramento
opened the scoring early with a kick from the corner that was headed in by
one of two players that had gotten behind the Sol defense. An excellent
back and forth game ensued in the first half with
Tony Bussard
scoring a spectacular goal off the bicycle kick just before the end of the
half.
Tony Bussard scored the only goal for Sol Saturday in Sacramento.
The intense
and well played game continued in the second half when a Knight striker,
with back to the goal just outside the six yard line, faked right to the
outside and quickly turned back in to hit a low shot far post for the game
winner. Ending score…Sacramento 2, Sol 1.
The mixed
results of the weekend still leave Sol on top of the NPSL Western Division.
Sacramento is now tied with the Salinas Samba in second place with 26
points. The point total is deceptive, however, as the Knights have played
two less games than Sol at this point in the season, so they have 4 games
left to pad their league point total, while Samba has three and Sol has two.
Sacramento has two games against teams that are in the lower half of the
bracket as well as another game against Chico and the last season game
against Sol in Santa Rosa. Sol and Samba both play Sacramento. In addition,
Samba, plays San Diego and Albuquerque, two teams that are in the lower part
of the standings. Sol’s remaining games are against Chico at Chico
(currently in 4th place by 1 point) and Sacramento in a contest that could
prove pivotal to claim the #1 seed going into playoffs. The Saturday Chico
game will be played in the very inhospitable surroundings of the Rooks where
they consistently draw the biggest crowds in the League.
But looking
into the future, it is likely that the four teams going into the playoffs
will be Sol, Samba, Sacramento and Chico. The playoff format has the
#1 team playing #4 and #2 facing #3. These games are scheduled for July
24th with the final for the Western Division taking place on July 29th.
Don't forget
Sol's youth soccer camp at Montgomery High School July 18th through 21st.
For more information, please see our website.
Sol Wins One, Loses One
July 3, 2005 Sonoma County Sol shut
out the Albuquerque Asylum Friday night 3-0. On Saturday night in a hard
fought and close game, Sol lost to the Sacramento Knights, 1-2. Sol's lone
goal came with seconds left in the first half off a bicycle kick by forward
Tony Bussard.
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