Dos Pueblos scored an equalizing goal early in the second half, but St. John Bosco broke through in the final three minutes with a pair of goals and beat the Chargers, 3-1, in a CIF-SS Division 2 boys soccer quarterfinal match on Tuesday at Scott O’Leary Stadium.
David Veloz of the Braves scored off Christian Brueggeman’s flick of a free kick for the go-ahead goal in the 77th minute and Tony Negrete finished the game to end Dos Pueblos’ season.
“After conceding a goal early on in the match, I thought our team rebounded beautifully in the first half,” said DP coach Matt York. “We controlled a lot of the possession and finally seemed to settle down. We came out on fire in the second half and scored a quick goal to tie the game and it was so amazing to see from the sidelines our team respond again and again through adversity.”
Scott Buie knotted the score for the Chargers in the 45th minute, firing a half-volley inside the far post. The goal re-energized DP and the crowd.
“He’s an animal,” York said of Buie. “He pretty much does everything for us. He plays defense but he starts our attack. He runs like a gazelle, he never seems to really get tired. My memories of Scott are going to be just full-on effort and always sniffing his nose around the ball.”
The Chargers stepped up their attack in the second half.
“Our guys have done it before, they’ve come from behind,” York said of the team’s response in the second half. “They played like that again and they matched it up. Once it’s 1-1, it’s a anyone’s ballgame. We had the home crowd going for us.”
But Bosco was able to match DP’s energy and create a dangerous opportunity in the 55th minute. Fortunately for DP, goalkeeper Jorge Dominguez came up with a huge save off a snazzy corner shot to keep the score at 1-1.
DP trekked into the Braves’ attacking third but Bosco keeper Martin Zuniga saved a shot and the Braves’ wall blocked a free-kick try by Leo Rubio.
Veloz broke the tie for the Braves in the 77th minute after being sent off moments earlier for a yellow card.
“One of my teammates actually asked me if I wanted to go in for him and I said, ‘Why not, it’s coming down to the wire and we needed to get that goal.’” said Veloz. “It was a great service and a flick on and me just lucky to be there to put it in.”
DP seniors Scott Buie, UC Davis-bound Hayden Carlson, Aldo Becerril and CJ Rodriguez were taken out in the final minutes of their high school soccer careers and were given a thunderous ovations from fans and players.
“I’ve had them for four years. It was the least I could do,” said York. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t get (all the seniors) off.”