Leighton Brillo-Sonnino and Matthew Firestone scored goals and Cate held off San Marcos for a 2-0 season-opening boys soccer win on Wednesday at Cate.
Rams goalkeeper Keller Mochel had three saves in earning the shutout.
“We played hard today at both ends of the field,” Cate coach Peter Mack said. “And while injuries and fatigue took their toll starting in the first half, we saw flashes of a very positive future. We were able to establish our pattern of play in fits and spurts, which made for some very dangerous scoring opportunities. And our defensive unit limited San Marcos to four shots on the day.”
The Rams scored in the eighth minute on a penalty kick by Brillo-Sonnino.
San Marcos mustered one shot in the first half, but it was a dangerous one that hit the crossbar and landed on the goal line before being cleared Mochel.
The Royals threatened several times in the second half, including a point-blank shot that sailed wide. But the Rams continued to pressure and counterattack.
In the 63rd minute, senior Andrew Robbins played a ball to senior Tyler Douglas’ feet at the top of the box and Douglas nimbly slipped it through to senior Firestone, who rocketed a low shot into the far corner for a 2-0 lead.
San Marcos was playing its first match under coach Rob Lauderdale.
After giving up the PK, “we played well the next 50-plus minutes, missing three point blank shots,” said Lauderdale.
The first-year varsity coach praised the solid play up top by Nick Stebbins.
