Los Gatos Weekly-Times
Sports
Win over Santa Cruz 'one of greatest' in LG soccer history
By Kevin Sparrer
It's possible that the Los Gatos boys soccer team's victory over Santa Cruz could be considered "one of the greatest victories in the history of the boys soccer program at Los Gatos High School," said Gatos head coach Rusty Millard.
The Cats defeated the powerhouse 2-0 under the lights onthe Oak Grove football field.
Senior Niki Chow broke through the defense and fed Brett Litle, who sent a blazing shot into the corner of the net for the first goal of the game.
The Wildcats extended their lead in the 28th minute. Jared Bernstein took a pass from the back and sent the ball to a wide open Litle, who placed an unselfish pass to Clark Cushman who sent it into the net for the second and final goal of the game.
"What can I say," said Millard. "I'm actually speechless. This team just beat one of the best teams in the entire Central Coast Section pretty handily. I am so proud of these guys and what they are accomplishing. I have 21 great players and I think the world of them."
On Dec. 19 the Wildcats also defeated Palo Alto 2-0, denying Paly the retribution they desired after Los Gatos beat them out for the league championship a year ago.
In the 24th minute, the Cats broke apart the 0-0 tie when Bernstein found Marc Tonkel, who knocked the ball into the net to put the Cats up 1-0.
In the second half, the Palo Alto squad upped the pressure on the Cats with a number of throw-ins inside the Los Gatos goal box, but the Cats cleared the ball each time.
Jack Schweitzer protected his goal for the Cats, knocking a well placed penalty kick away from the goal to protect the 1-0 Los Gatos lead and deflate the efforts of Palo Alto.
Litle then found himself alone in front of the net with only four minutes left in the game. He then sent a line drive to Grant James, who changed the direction with a one-touch header into the upper right corner to score the second and final score of the game.
"Schweitzer was our MVP today. He finished the game with eight saves--four of those were spectacular," said Millard. "I was proud of how our boys set the tone in today's game."
On Dec. 14, Los Gatos downed previously undefeated Santa Clara team in the first league game of the season. The Cats opened the scoring in the 23rd minute on a throw-in from Litle. Litle launched the throw-in into the Bruins goal box and found Kevin Peth, who slammed the ball into the net past the diving goalkeeper.
It was in the 52nd minute that the Cats scored their second goal when Bernstein received a pass and sent it to a streaking Tonkel, who then sent the ball to Chow who smacked a one touch shot just inside the near post to put the Cats up 2-0.
At the 59th minute, Bernstein hit Tonkel on a quick pass and Tonkel smacked it into the goal, past the Santa Clara keeper, to give Los Gatos the lead 3-0.
