PREP BOYS SOCCER: Orange Glen gets familiar result with tie against San Marcos

By RICK HOFF - For the North County Times | Thursday, January 8, 2009 11:02 PM PST ∞

Orange Glen's Jesus Gutierrez keeps ahead of San Marcos' Willy Crepo for control of the ball during the first half on Thursday. Photo by John Koster - For The North County Times.

ESCONDIDO ---- Prior to Thursday's Valley League match against San Marcos High, Orange Glen boys soccer coach Mike Pellicio was lamenting the fact that his team "had too many ties that should have been wins."

Pellicio proved to be prophetic as the first-year coach watched his team dominate the Knights for 57 minutes before the Patriots allowed the tying goal in a 1-1 draw at Dick Disney Field.

"We started the second half playing very well, but once we got a goal, we got a little too excited," Pellicio said. "We went back to some bad habits, and that didn't help in the end."

Pellicio is in his first year as head coach after replacing John Domingo, and his task is to maintain a winning tradition in the Orange Glen soccer program.

The Patriots (1-4-4, 0-1-1) showed some of the flair that has helped produce three straight Valley League championships, but despite a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal in the first half and maintaining possession at their end of the pitch, Orange Glen saw the first half end in a scoreless draw.

It didn't take long for the Patriots to break the stalemate in the second half.

Forward Mark Luna was taken down by San Marcos defender Silvestre Trujillo in the goal box seven minutes into the half. The resulting penalty kick was converted by co-captain Adrian Gutierrez with a shot that went to the left of Knights goalie Edgar Gastelum.

Just 10 minutes later, the Knights (1-5-2, 0-0-1) lined up for a corner kick at their end, and a pair of sophomores connected for the equalizer. Brian Paleo arced a perfect kick that Rudy Trujillo directed past Orange Glen goalie Julio Barron.

Each team had opportunities to score the rest of the match, as San Marcos increased the pressure while receiving strong defensive play at the other end by center midfielder Alex Cervantes.

Orange Glen senior co-captain Mario Ramirez was particularly frustrated in the final 10 minutes with a hard shot that went just over the top of the goal in the 71st minute and another shot that was just left of the goal in the 79th minute.

"We haven't had much practice time as a team, with the rains and guys being out of town," Luna said. "We were arguing with each other a little too much out there, but once we start getting together as a team, we'll play more like family."

San Marcos coach Jesse Swonetz is seeing improvement in his second season at the helm of the youthful Knights, who started just one senior against Orange Glen.

"This was a team that had three years of not winning," Swonetz said. "We brought in six freshmen last year, and we're still rebuilding this year.

"This was the kind of game that showed how we can come back and play hard. It's getting the kids to believe they can do it."