San Mateo, Hillsdale boys’ soccer open 2022 with entertaining draw

San Mateo head man George Pineda, on the other hand, didn’t have his team together at all during the two weeks off. He said the Bearcats didn’t even have a chance to get a quick practice in Monday.

“That’s why we scheduled three games this week, to get into (game) condition,” Pineda said.

It appears there is no right or wrong way to go about it as the two teams — and rivals — played to a 1-1 draw Tuesday evening at Hillsdale.

“I thought it was super enjoyable to watch,” Pliego said. “There was a good flow to the game.”

No matter the amount of preparation heading into the first non-league game of the new year, both teams looked a bit rusty — especially in front of the goal. Both squads struggle finishing the multiple opportunities each got.

Each team had golden opportunities in the opening minutes of each half. In the first half, it was San Mateo’s Sameer Murthy who misfired on a pair of close-range chances. Shortly after the opening kickoff, Murthy had the ball at his feet in front of the Hillsdale goal, but sailed his shot attempt well over the top of the goal frame.

Two minutes later, Luis Rodriguez sent a perfect cross to a streaking Murthy, who was denied on a kick save by Hillsdale goalkeeper Jack Johal.

Pineda said the biggest issue of having little practice time comes in the finishing department.

“The outcome is this — missed opportunities,” Pineda said.

Hillsdale got two of its best chances to start the second half, but San Mateo goalkeeper Abe Yeager was up to the task. Off the second-half kickoff, Hillsdale was in on goal, with a perfect through ball to a motoring Gabe Baima, who took the pass in stride with a step on his defender.

Yeager came confidently off his line and made a sweeping kick save to thwart the attack.

Three minutes later, Yeager made a reaction save to keep the game tied at 1-all.

“Abe covers a lot of ground, Pineda said. “He’s always making good saves.”

Later in the half, Bearcats backup goalkeeper, Sam Iannone, was forced into action. After San Mateo’s Ryan Collins received a straight red card for a reckless challenge, Yeager complained long and loud enough to receive a yellow card — meaning he had to come off the field until the next dead ball.

In came Iannone, with no warm up, to face a free kick 35 yards out. Hillsdale Trey Reyes stepped into the free kick and directed a shot on goal that Iannone handled with aplomb.

Two minutes later, Iannone punched clear a Hillsdale cross off a corner kick.

“It’s always big (to have the backup makes saves in those situations),” Pineda said. “Sam is actually a really good goalie as well.”

It wasn’t all missed chances, however. San Mateo (4-3-1) took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on a great individual effort from Rodriguez. The play began with Rodriguez receiving the ball on the right side, making a parallel run along the top of the penalty box. He was initially knocked off the ball by a Hillsdale defender, but he recovered his balance and the ball. Finally finding a sliver of space, he unleashed a shot from 18 yards out.

Hillsdale’s Johal was in position to make the save and he did get his hands and body on the shot — but it managed to slip under him and trickle into the goal for the San Mateo lead.

It was short-lived, however, as the Knights got the equalizer a minute later. Hillsdale (5-2-1) earned a corner kick and Reyes curled a cross into the San Mateo penalty box.

Hillsdale right fullback Shy Quock came flying in like a bolt of lightning and with a cracking header found the upper right corner of the net to knot the game at 1.

Hillsdale tried to take advantage of the fact the Bearcats played the final 15 minutes down a man due to the red card, but the Knights had trouble delivering the correct through ball as three times they were whistled for being offside — including one that erased a Richard Ko goal.

“To be honest, we should have won that game,” Pliego said.