Hot start paves way for Spartan rout

Strathmore girls' soccer has shown it can take a hit and keep on ticking.

After last year’s vaunted squad lost a few stars such as Cecilia Ramirez (graduated) and Nayeli Colunga (switched to basketball), these Spartans keep finding ways to produce — as they did Tuesday night against Orosi in a 5-1 victory.

The win puts ESL-leading Strathmore at 4-0-1 in league play and 12-3-2 overall before heading to Corcoran on Thursday.

Brianna Rodriguez, Hailey Tsuboi and Amalia Gomez needed just 14 minutes into the match to put Strathmore on top, 3-0.

From there, the Spartans wavered throughout much of the first half before getting back to business by outscoring the Cardinals 2-0 in the second 40 minutes.

“It was a good game for us,” Strathmore coach Hector Gonzalez said. “We were able to play some of our girls who don’t get to play too much.”

Not only did his bench get significant minutes, the subs made significant contributions as well.

Gomez, who typically plays just 10 minutes in each half, saw action in the majority of the game after she was the recipient of a well-placed pass by Rodriguez, who drove deep right and, just before landing out of bounds, sent the assist. The pass skidded in front of Orosi goalkeeper Jeannette Sanchez and found Gomez, where she easily punched it in for her first goal of the season.

Fellow subs Monica Velasquez and Jackie Avalos, who assisted midfielder Lizbeth Galvan for Strathmore’s first goal about five minutes into the second half, also saw plenty of time on the field.

It was also Galvan’s first goal of the season as a junior.

“It was nice to get that first one out of the way,” Galvan said.

For Strathmore’s final goal, Jayleen Lemus found Alejandra Orozco streaking up the middle for an easy shot to build the four-goal lead.

Though the Spartans had defeated Orosi 3-1 a couple of weeks ago, starting goalkeeper Veronica Magana says her squad tries not to take anyone for granted.

“Even if we’re winning, we always try to think it’s 0-0 so we don’t get too cocky,” Magana said. “We try to take everyone seriously.”

But even the top teams will have lapses of letdowns from time to time.

After Gomez’s goal at the 14th minute, Orosi pushed back with several drives deep into Strathmore territory.

“Sometimes you see the score is 7 or 10 to nothing,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not about that. It’s about learning to touch the ball and move it around into open space.

“Sometimes it’s hard to play against teams who don’t quite have the same quality of players and you play down to your competition,” he added. “It sounds bad to say, but that’s what it is. That gives the other team an advantage when you think, ‘Oh, it’s going to be an easy game.’ (That’s why we) substituted girls out so we could tell them, ‘You can’t let down. You have to concentrate for the whole 80 minutes.’”

Orosi forward Mary Mondragon spearheaded most of the Cardinals’ attempts, including a breakaway shot that sailed wide left. Late in the half, Mondragon collided with Strathmore defender Taylor Brown and left the game limping (though she would later return).

Orosi’s Norma Ornelas lined up with a free kick from about 22 yards out and nailed the shot into the right side of the net past Magana.

The 2009 All-Star goalkeeper said it was a matter of misplacing her teammates in front of her.

“I should’ve had my girls spread out,” the four-year varsity keeper said, “but I had half the team on the (goal box) line, so I couldn’t see (the ball).”

Magana was pulled from her duties in the second half and replaced by teammate Andrea Gutierrez. But not because she was performing poorly.

“I just wanted to play goalie,” Gutierrez said, smiling.

Magana played at forward in place of Gutierrez, a sophomore whom teammates say is one of the reasons Strathmore is competitive as ever.

“She’s been stepping up this year,” said Galvan, who played varsity last season. “Andrea and Amelia Medrano have helped us a lot.”