Boys varsity soccer came back from a one point deficit to win the game against Salinas. This was the first game of the Central Coast Section championships.

Early in the first half, Carlmont got a wake-up call when Salinas scored the first goal.

“We came out too soft in the beginning,” said Carlmont senior Justin Harpster.

Shortly after Salinas’ goal, Michel Gonzalez was able to dribble the ball back down the center and score a goal to tie the game back up.

This goal changed the tone of the game, as Carlmont dominated from that point on.

Harpster and Gonzalez maintained pressure on the opposing team by taking shot after shot on their goalie, virtually unfazed by Salinas’ rough touches.

“They had some bad touches, but the refs were observant and usually called them on it,” said Harpster of the other team’s hostility. Two of Salinas’ players received yellow cards during the game.

Defenders Ryan Freeman and Justin Quan refused to allow Salinas many opportunities to shoot on Carlmont’s goalie, Zach Wooster. However, whenever one of their players did slip by to try and score, Wooster jumped like a magnet to the ball to stop them from making any more goals.

Late in the second half, the game was still tied 1-1. Carlmont was in Salinas’ goal box when one of their players tried to rough up Harpster without the refs noticing. He failed in doing so.

With five minutes on the clock, Harpster came in clutch with the game winning penalty kick to wrap up the game.

“Even though it was a P.K. it still felt amazing to make the game-winning goal,” commented Harpster.

This quarterfinal victory will bring the Carlmont Scots back next weekend to play against Bellarmine High School in the semifinals.

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