Carpinteria’s boys soccer team left for Atascadero at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday to play in the final day of the Cats and Hounds Tournament.
With club soccer included, many of the Warriors had played nine games already on the week, but they managed to make a push and finish strong by winning all three of their matches en route to the Silver Bracket title.
“They were really tired, but in the final game they just played amazing,” said coach Daniel Torres.
The final match was a 3-1 win against Arroyo Grande.
“It was by far the best game I’ve seen these guys play,” said Torres. “Everything I was asking for they did despite being so tired.”
The Eagles struck first in the seventh minute, but Carpinteria responded four minutes later when Eduardo Contreras assisted Oscar Montes.
Birthday-boy Tony Alvarez then rocketed one in from 25 yards out to put the Warriors ahead.
“I’m surprised the goalie didn’t collapse. He just stood there and watched it. It seemed like it was going 100 miles an hour,” said Torres.
Alvarez scored on a nice one-time volley to close out the day’s scoring.
The Warriors (5-1-1) defeated San Luis Obispo 1-0 in the first game on a goal by Sergio Ortega which was assisted by Alvarez. Torres said that the day’s second game, against Morro Bay, was the worst of the season thus far, but the Warriors managed a 1-1 tie and won on penalty kicks as goalie Erik Rojas made saves on the Pirates’ fourth and fifth shooters.
Torres added that sophomore Muhammed Mehai had a very nice tournament, playing every minute of every game at midfield.
