'Unintentional' goal lifts Mustangs into soccer semifinal
| Saturday, Feb 21 2009 02:32 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:22 PM
Images
Alex Mitchell of Bakersfield, right, and Bijan Mirkazemi of Stockdale try to muscle each other off the ball during the first half of Friday's playoff match at Griffith Field.
Andre Heidari didn't know whether to celebrate or break out in tears.
The Stockdale sophomore felt a rush of emotions after scoring an improbable late goal that lifted the Mustangs to a 1-0 Central Section Division I quarterfinal victory over Bakersfield High on Friday night at Griffith Field.
In the 74th minute, after a prolonged physical battle, Heidari lobbed a long cross that found its way into the corner of the net.
"We had a throw-in and he threw it back to me," Heidari said. "I didn't know what to do so I was going to cross it and it just went into the goal. That's all I can say. It was unintentional."
After the final whistle blew, a jubilant Heidari raced toward the center circle, tore his shirt off and waved it emphatically.
"I was about to cry," Heidari said. "They're our rival ... Big emotions."
The win provided a measure of revenge for No. 5 Stockdale (14-8-2), which was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs a year ago by the Drillers.
"I wanted them to remeber," Stockdale coach David Atkinson. "I didn't want them to experience that same feeling again this year. I wanted them to win so badly to not have that feeling."
After a scoreless first half, No. 4 BHS (16-7-2) looked like the team that would break through first but failed to convert on several good scoring chances.
In the 56th minute Alex Mitchell struck a perfectly placed chip that Stockdale keeper David Vivian tipped onto the post. Vivian appeared to have been injured on the play but remained in the game.
On the ensuing corner Robert Valencia struck a low line drive at the hobbled keeper, who after making the save was carried off the field by two teammates.
"I think we outplayed them in the second half," Bakersfield coach Archie Parks said. "I think on paper we might be a better team than them but they came out and played hard tonight and it went their way. A one in a million shot went into the back of the net for them."
Early on, the game was a defensive chess match with BHS controlling much of the possession and Stockdale looking to counterattack.
There were only three combined shots on goal before the intermission as both teams struggled to mount any type of sustained offensive pressure.
The games first shot on goal didn't occur until the 19th minute, when Stockdale's Ricky Sandoval fired a low shot from the right side of the box that Driller keeper Drew Clemans handled cleanly.
But the best scoring chance the first half came six minutes later when Johnny Valenzuela crossed to Sandoval, who headed wide after being left open in the middle of the six-yard box.
Late in the half the Stockdale striker nearly scored again as he launched a 35-yard screamer which Clemans did well to save and hold onto.
Stockdale was without two of its starters. Second leading goal scorer, Oscar Perez, was in Los Angeles preparing for a tryout today with the LA Galaxy youth team. And Brendon Kimber who missed practice all week due the flu.
Despite the setbacks, Stockdale pulled through and earned the right to face top-seeded Fresno-Bullard in a semifinal match on Tuesday.
"It was a team effort," Heidari said. "You can't just come out and do it on your own. It was a great game. I just love my team."
