St. Francis High soccer blanks Canyon
LA CANÑDA — After a handful of quality scoring chances didn’t result in any goals in the first half for the St. Francis High soccer team, it got a more favorable outcome in the second half.
Benjamin Gabella and Neil Markey scored roughly 90 seconds apart to help host St. Francis to a 2-0 nonleague victory against Canyon Country Canyon on Wednesday at Friedman Field.
“We talked at halftime about trying to be more calm in front of the goal,” said St. Francis Coach Glen Appels, whose team improved to 3-0-1. “We had a lot of opportunities in the first half and we figured we’d get some more chances in the second half.
“You have to have composure and be able to stay patient in a game like this one.”
St. Francis’ Christian Ibarra hit the left post with a shot early in the second half, but the Golden Knights continued to control the pace of the match before finally solving the Cowboys (2-3).
Gabella took a quick pass from Markey and deposited a shot just inside the far right post to give St. Francis a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute. The Golden Knights picked up an insurance goal when Markey scored off a pass from Ibarra.
“It’s about being able to finish on your chances, and that’s something I’ve been working on a lot lately,” Markey, a junior midfielder, said. “Benji is skilled and knows how to deliver the ball and he’s helped me a lot.
“We have a lot of seniors who have been able to help out the younger players.”
St. Francis goalkeeper Mark Garcia, a junior, made six saves to help St. Francis post its first shutout of the season. Garcia stopped Canyon’s Cesar Villanueva on a partial breakaway in the 69th minute.
Gabella had two excellent scoring chances in the first half. He had a 25-yard shot go just wide of the left post in the 16th minute and then had an 18-yard shot attempt go just over the crossbar.
Appels, a former All-Area Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year, said Gabella and Markey provide the Golden Knights a dimension on offense.
“They know where the other is,” Appels said. “Neil allowed Benji to finish with a nice pass.”
St. Francis will next meet Thousand Oaks at 7 p.m. Friday in a quarterfinal match of the Ralph Brandt Tournament at Friedman Field.
