Petaluma, California-
With
a good portion of
the Storm roster missing due to injuries, and personal obligations, the
team traveled North to Sonoma County to play the Sonoma County Sol, from
the North Western Conference. The team knew with the shortage of
players, and the need for three points that they had to attack and
attack fast.
That is what they did in a 3-1 win over the Sol with goals from Stephen Martines, Tyler Coombes and Alex Harlley.
It was only 9 minutes in
to the game and the Storm already had three shots on target, when Alex
Harlley brought the ball down the right side and battled with a number
of Sol defenders. Harlley slipped a pass down the goal
line and found the foot of Captain Stephen Martines who pushed it over
the line for the early lead in the first half. The half continued to be
the Storms game as they controlled the ball 70 % of the time and had a
number of opportunities but only the one found the back of the net. The
Sol managed four shots and five saves in that first half.
The
second half saw a completely different Sonoma Sol as they came out
reorganized
and started to pick up the pace and play a much more controlled game.
Possession of the b all changed and the Sol seemed to be the ones in
control of
the game.
Quickly, Sol's Octavio Estupinan fouled the Storm in an effort to regain
the ball. The foul gave Estupinan his second yellow card of the game and he
was ejected. The Sol were still controlling the ball but
were not able to get any real shots off until the 61st min of play. The
Sol picked up a lose ball in the center of the field and managed to get a
shot on target and make it count as they got it past Storms keeper
Edgar Torres. Torres picked up in the second half for starting
keeper Steven Rodrigious. With the score tied at one, it was a new game but the Sol did not show it as they still had
most of the possession. But the Storm still out
shot the Sol in the second half 9 to 2, real credit to the
Storm defenders.
The score stayed tied
until the 83rd minute of play when it was Tyler Coombes who received a
pass from Alex Harrley and made a run through the mid field and slapped a
shot that gave the Storm the go ahead and winning goal.
That was Coombes 8th goal in only six games and leads the Storm in points so far this season.
Then
in the 85th minute,
just two minutes later after assisting on two goals, Harlley got a hold
of a pass from defender Gregory Quintaro and took it directly at the
keeper and after getting around two defenders, Harlley finally got one
of
his own and added the third and final goal of the game. Harlley, with
two assists and a goal earned the player of the match award.
Next, the Storm returns
home on the 19th at Canyon High School where they will welcome Real San
Jose, also out of the North West Conference. It will be a 6pm game and
gates will open at five. Come out and see high scoring Coombes, Martines
, and Harlley as they continue their climb back to the top of the NPSL
South West Conference.
NOTE: At the game on May
19th Futbol Club Santa Clarita will extend the offer of any youth player
14 and under, in there team uniform get in free.
Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids.
But remember kids wearing their uniform will get in FREE.
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It
was in the end of the first 45 minutes of play when the Storms defender
Gregory Quintero received a pass from Alex Harlley and through traffic
Quintero put the ball in to give the Storm a one to 0 lead going in to
half time. 
