In its first-ever playoff game Tuesday, the Lathrop boys soccer team dug itself out of a two-goal hole to start the second half and exploded for a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over visiting Orestimba at Bennie Gatto Field.
“I think that first half was one of the worst halves we have had in the whole season,” Lathrop coach Alfredo Reynaga said. “We had opportunities in the first half and didn’t capitalize, while they took advantage of the opportunities they had. We preach about taking advantage of opportunities when we get them, so at halftime I tried to calm them down and told them to play their game, that this first half did not represent who we are.
“We had a game plan against this team and the kids didn’t execute it very well in the first half but in the second half they paid a little more attention to detail and they did what they were supposed to do.”
Alan Hernandez was in on the first goal for the No. 5 Spartans (13-8-4) and scored the last.
Midway through the second half, Hernandez launched a corner kick to the far post where it was knocked around a bit before Ociel Mora knocked it in to bring Lathrop within 2-1.
“The ball was around other people on that corner kick,” Mora said. “So I saw the ball, kicked it and it went in.”
In the 68th minute, Joerge Garcia tied the score at 2-2 when he took a long pass from Reyli Villalpando and collided with Warriors goalie Julian Verdin, knocking in the loose ball.
“I saw the ball in the air,” Garcia said. “I just went with my gut, hit the ball and it went in.”
With a little over 4 minutes left in the game, Hernandez toed up a free kick from 20 yards out and launched it over Verdin’s outstretched arms for the eventual winning goal.
“On the corner kick, I just looked back post because I knew he (Mora) was back there,” Hernandez said. “And that’s just what I do.
“I barely practiced a free kick on Monday. That last one was a real emotional goal for us. Just incredible to come back like that. We just want to demonstrate that Lathrop’s here.”
The game turned out to be extremely physical in front of a very raucous crowd with at least 10 players combined from both teams going down in the second half with apparent injuries.
No. 12 Orestimba (16-8-2) got its two goals on a penalty kick from Edwin Saavedra and a tap in following a long cross to Angel Ibarra.
The Spartans take to the road Thursday to face No. 4 Rio Linda at 6 p.m.
