A goal early and a goal late led to a 1-1 draw in a boys soccer season-opener between Elma and Aberdeen on Saturday in Aberdeen.
In the non-league matchup at Stewart Field, Elma (0-0-1 overall) opened the game with momentum, penetrating deep into the Aberdeen end and controlling the pace of play.
In the fifth minute Elma cashed in on its early-game scoring chances on a spectacular individual play from co-captain Manny Hernandez.
The senior forward outhustled three Aberdeen defenders for a 50/50 ball sent toward the Bobcats third. Hernandez got his head on the ball to push it further toward the Aberdeen goal, chased it down then sent a bending shot that curled in over leaping Aberdeen goaltender Antonio Granados for a 1-0 lead.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma forward Manny Hernandez (3) celebrates with teammates René Duran (2) and Valencia Mendoza after scoring a goal early in the first half against Aberdeen on Saturday in Aberdeen.
“I think (Hernandez’s goal) helped us settle down. We played relatively well after that for awhile,” Elma head coach Carson Seaberg said. “(The goal) helps our (defensive) back. It helps the young kids that haven’t got to play varsity before. It was an intense game but it’s always a good game the last few times we’ve played Aberdeen.”
“(Elma) did a good job passing the ball around the first 10 minutes, but we also just didn’t go for the ball,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “(Hernandez) split three of our defenders that didn’t communicate. … He hit a nice shot.”
But after instructing his players to do a better job marking Hernandez and senior midfielder Valencia Mendoza — who wreaked havoc on the Bobcats defense in the first quarter of the contest — the tide began to turn in favor of Aberdeen.
The Bobcats began to get the better of the scoring chances in the latter half of the first 40 minutes of play and opened the second half pressuring the Elma defense.
Late in the first half a hard shot was saved by Eagles keeper Andy Salvatierra, who dove to his left to deflect the line-drive away from goal and stake Elma to the 1-0 halftime lead.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Aberdeen junior midfielder/forward Carlos Mendoza took a steep-angle shot from deep inside the Elma box that got past a diving Salvatierra, but slipped just wide of the far post.
A few minutes later, a long and dangerous 50/50 ball caused Salvatierra to leave his line and make a diving save in front of converging Aberdeen attacker Daniel Guzman.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma goal keeper Andy Salvatierra dives to grab a loose ball in front of Aberdeen forward Daniel Guzman (23) in a 1-1 draw on Saturday in Aberdeen.
In the 62nd minute, a ball was deflected off the crossbar on a header by Aberdeen senior forward Daniel Guzman after being sent in off a direct free kick..
Aberdeen would finally break through with just five minutes remaining in the game when Bobcats junior midfielder Hugo Garcia fed Carlos Mendoza the ball in the middle of the Eagles third. Mendoza pivoted to his right and ripped a hard, low shot toward the left post, past an outstretched Salvatierra to knot the game up at 1-1.
“Really happy we were able to score in the end,” said Fleming, whose team played in Elma’s end for the large majority of the second half. “It paid off after all that pressure that we put on them because sometimes it doesn’t happen that way.”
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen forward Carlos Mendoza rips a shot during the second half of a 1-1 draw with Elma on Saturday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.
Mendoza’s goal sent out a loud roar from the several hundred Aberdeen faithful that attended the game.
“It’s really nice to see that for Harbor games,” Fleming said of the large crowd comprised of both Aberdeen and Elma fans. “That’s the way it should be. … I think people were excited. (Elma) is going to be a great team. They have some fast kids. … That’s a great test for us and a really tough game. I’m really happy with our effort.”
For Elma, giving up a goal in the game’s latter stages to leave Stewart Field with a draw initially felt like the proverbial gut-punch, but the Eagles soon got over the negative feelings.
“When we first walked off the field, they were that way,” Coach Seaberg said, noting his team felt disheartened immediately after the final whistle. “But this is a confident group. I know it’s going to bother them, in that sense, but they aren’t going to hang their heads and mope. We’re going to go out and play hard, have a good practice and get back after it on Tuesday.”
Aberdeen takes on Hoquiam at 7 p.m. Monday in Aberdeen.
Elma hosts King’s Way Christian at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Elma 1 0 — 1
Aberdeen 0 1 — 1
Scoring
First half — 1, Elma, Hernandez, 5th minute.
Second half — 2, Aberdeen, Mendoza (Guzman), 75th minute.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma midfielder Valencia Mendoza (7) and Aberdeen defender Isaiah Johnson (11) compete for possession during a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.
