The game seemed to be an upset in favor of Castro Valley when they battled Arroyo in one of two games at Moreau Catholic on Tuesday, February 6th. Castro Valley held a 2-0 lead by the end of the first half, but the second half went Arroyo’s way. 

Arroyo had many chances starting out the game, but CV goalie Lyndsey Silva was solid in net and kept the donuts on the board. Arroyo could not take advantage of their brakes as they hit three posts early in the game and it helped CV gain the early advantage when Stacey Zelaya broke through the defenders all alone and left Goalie Beckey Gerton vulnerable on the lower left corner. 

With the lead 1-0, Castro Valley would again take advantage of an Arroyo mistake when Arroyo was called for a penalty and the kick was deflected in off the head of Melissa Onstad. After the kick was delivered, the ball hit the crossbar and deflected off a few heads until it found its way in the goal. 

The first  half ended at 2-0 in favor of Castro Valley. It looked like someone was writing and upset, but the atmosphere of the second half was totally different then the first. Arroyo’s first goal came off a rebound when Theresa Grangoff scored one of her two goals on Castro Valley.

At 2-1, the Arroyo goalie Becky Gerton was a major factor in the comeback by Arroyo. Making a point blank save, Gerton kept the team’s fight going. A little later, Kate Chadwick scored after CV goalie, Silva, ran after a rolling ball and was caught out of position. Chadwick proceeded to kick the ball in the open net and in the process tie the game.  

The third goal, or winning goal was produced by Theresa Grangoff who launched a shot from twenty-five yards out and it sailed right overt he Silva’s head. “I am proud that we had a chance to come in hear and beat CV,” explained the player of the game, Theresa Grangoff. The game ended quietly, but the atmosphere around was of shock. Castro Valley held a 2-0 lead and in a little less then thirty minutes, Arroyo came back to win it. 

“It was a painful ending to a outstanding season,” said the CV coach. “Now all we can do is hope for a NCS bid.” Indeed it was a sad way to end this season for CV as they finished #3 in league.

The Arroyo coach was ecstatic about his comeback victory and that he does not have a mindset yet on what to do about O’Dowd. This great game was put together out of physical action and hard offensive work that should be expected at all HAAL games. #2 

Arroyo moved on to face number one O’Dowd on Thursday the 8th , winning 1-0, and forcing a rematch the following evening.  In the rematch, O’Dowd made a statement, beating Arroyo 5-0, and winning an automatic berth to the NCS playoffs.
 

James is a student  at Moreau High School in Hayward, California