Sang Lee
ARCADIA -- Arcadia's boys' soccer players and coaches read in
disbelief. A prior newspaper article had a fellow Pacific League coach
quoted as to be saying that Hoover, not Arcadia was the team to beat in
league this year.
This came as a shock to the 15-year league champions.
"Hey, tell the newspaper that Arcadia is better than Hoover," voiced
out one of the Apache players during the match between the two on Tuesday
at Arcadia City Hall.
And following true to its word, Arcadia held on to an early-goal lead
to settle the dispute on the field, 1-0.
The Apaches (15-1-3) started the match fluidly as a Chris Izell
crossing-pass was received from German Bravo in the penalty box, who
headed in the goal only six minutes in.
"We started out flat. We didn't even have a player go up with theirs
when they scored," Hoover Coach Mark Rubio said.
But the Tornadoes (9-8-4, 1-2-2 in league) wouldn't let an early
deficit bother them. Both teams played up to the hype coming into the
match as Arcadia outshot the Tornadoes 13-8. Hoover goalkeeper Miguel
Torres finished the match with ten saves including two point-blank
rejections.
"I like Hoover," Apache Coach Ed Burke said. "They're quick, showed
good skills and clever passing."
Hoover's Alpin Nazaryan had the Tornadoes' best chance as he weaved
his way through numerous defenders across the field only to be brought
down from behind late in the first half.
A frantic match continued after the takedown, but after a
pulse-pounding first half, Arcadia's skill began to steal the show.
The Tornadoes were kept without a second-half shot on goal.
"They just outplayed us. In the second half we couldn't get anything
going." Rubio said.
