Publication Date: Friday, December 10, 2004
Gunn boys unbeaten, but they're not perfect
Gunn boys unbeaten, but they're not perfect
(December 10, 2004) Despite 6-0-1 start in soccer, Titans need to finish off opponents better as De Anza Division season looms
by Keith Peters
His Gunn High boys' soccer team has allowed just two goals in seven matches this season, five of them shutouts. And, his defense is giving up just three shots per outing.
Head coach David Burgee, however, knows things are far from perfect despite the Titans' 6-0-1 start.
"We have difficulty finishing," Burgee said. "We're averaging 14 1/2 shots per game (but have made only 16). "We've got to finish. We've got to do a better job against good teams."
Burgee certainly isn't disappointed with his team's fast start, which includes Tuesday's 2-1 nonleague triumph over visiting Overfelt. The Titans, however, converted only two of 13 chances and needed a second-half goal by Gilmar Arellano to finally secure the victory. Gunn took a 1-0 lead in the opening half when it received an own goal after junior Avery Naar crossed a ball in front of Overfelt's goal, which was inadvertently knocked in by an Overfelt player.
In a previous game against Valley Christian-San Jose, which ended in a 0-0 deadlock, Gunn failed to convert on all 12 attempts. Before that in a 2-1 win over Oak Grove, the Titans were two of 17.
This concerns Burgee because he knows the longer good teams have a shot at his Titans, the greater the chance of the opposition pulling out a win.
"Everybody is giving us their best game," he said. "We just have to put teams away."
Gunn will continue in that quest on Saturday when it takes on Santa Cruz in a Homestead Christmas Cup match at Valley Christian at 3:30 p.m. The Titans will open SCVAL De Anza Division play next Wednesday against visiting Monta Vista at 3:30 p.m.
Palo Alto (2-2-2) also will be at home that day, hosting Cupertino in its division opener. The Vikings have been hit by an unusually high number of injuries this season and have struggled in the early going.
Paly fell to visiting St. Francis on Monday, 3-1, getting a goal from Jean Choi in the second half for a brief 1-1 tie.
"This was our fourth game in six days," said Paly coach Don Briggs. "The game was competitive and aggressively fought in the first half. We had many opportunities in the first half, but did not convert."
Failing to convert was the theme of the day on Wednesday, as well, as Menlo School and Menlo-Atherton openened their respective PAL Bay Division seasons with setbacks. The Knights (0-1, 4-1-2) fell to visiting Woodside, 2-1, despite a first-half goal by Kevin Brege, while the Bears (0-1, 1-3-1) were blanked at home by Carlmont, 2-0.
Girls soccer
Palo Alto had its nonleague match with Westmont cancelled on Tuesday after a scheduling conflict, and Vikings' coach Jeff van Gastel probably wishes Wednesday's match against Monta Vista was postponed, as well.
But it wasn't, despite sloppy playing conditions. The Vikings played like the messy field and suffered a 1-0 upset loss to the host Matadors.
"Obviously, the field conditions were not ideal for our play," van Gastel said. "However, we were just bad. We could not complete passes, and Monta Vista basically beat us to every ball. In the attacking one-third, we are really struggling as the girls miss many opportunities and the shooting is rather poor.
"Defensively, we are doing rather well. But, it will be a tough year if we do not start scoring goals."
Monta Vista scored when a shot bounced off the chest of keeper Christy Gauthier and the ball landed in the mud about two years in front. A Monta Vista player raced in for the loose ball and scored.
"Not a good goal to give up," van Gastel said.
Palo Alto (3-1-1) had its scheduled match at Aptos on Thursday postponed due to poor field conditions. The game will be made up sometime in January. Next up will be a tough nonleague test at PAL Bay Division power Carlmont on Saturday at 11 a.m. Paly also will be on the road Monday for a nonleague match at Lynbrook.
Elsewhere in nonleague action, Castilleja (1-2-1) gained its first victory of the season with a 3-0 triumph over host Willow Glen. Kelly Schryver scored the game-winning goal off an assist from Christina Skieller in the first few minutes. Kelly Fitzgerald added a penalty kick and Julie Lee provided the final goal.
In PAL Bay Division openers Tuesday, Menlo (0-0-1, 4-1-2) was held to a scoreless tie by visiting Woodside, while Menlo-Atherton (0-1, 1-2) was crunched by Carlmont, 7-2. Both teams were back in action Thursday.
Girls basketball
Castilleja (2-2) rebounded from a tough 1-2 season-opening start in the Forest Lake Invitational last weekend to hold off visiting Mt. Eden, 32-29, on Wednesday night.
"A tough home opener," said Castilleja coach Jez McIntosh. "We played great defense, but couldn't buy a bucket in the first half."
The Gators shot 26 percent from the field and just 23 percent from the line.
"We were getting good looks, but nothing would go down," McIntosh said. "We stayed with it and fought hard to take our first lead at the end of the third quarter."
Castilleja hung tough in the fourth quarter to gain the win. Nikki Perlman and Alicia Flesher combined for 17 points to pace the Gators.
In another nonleague test this week, Palo Alto (3-2) overcame 27 turnovers by forcing visiting Burlingame into 23 miscues during a 55-48 victory by the Vikings.
Bre Clay led Paly with 17 points and Amber Jones contributed 12. Paly coach Amy Stock said her team did a good job of taking away the Panthers' three-point shooting, giving up just two treys.
Boys basketball
Sophomore Peter Jordan scored 21 points as Gunn (4-2) opened up the Burlingame Lions Club Tournament with a 56-44 win over Los Altos on Wednesday.
Eastside Prep (3-1), which won the consolation title of the R.L. Stevenson tournament last weekend, opened the Independence Invitational on Tuesday with a 58-37 win over North Monterey County. Clarence Webster had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Panthers while sophomore Ramon Meacham tallied 16 points and Marquis Pickrom added 14.
Tim Johnson, who hit a game-winning three-pointer to beat West Campus of Sacramento in the RLS tourney, added 12 points and eight rebounds for Eastside Prep.
Menlo School (2-0) got 14 points from Blake Schultz and 13 from Beau Heidrich in a 50-27 nonleague win over visiting Mid-Peninsula on Tuesday. Matt Curtis helped the Knights dominate the boards with 12 rebounds.
Sacred Heart Prep (1-0, 3-1) opened its Private Schools Athletic League season with a 64-54 win over visiting Harker on Tuesday. Pat Coffey (22 points), Thomas Donahoe (14) and Eric Cowell (10) led the Gators.
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