Glendale hangs on for rivalry tie
NORTHWEST GLENDALE — One coach was proud of the 0-0 tie, the other said he was simply disappointed.
Glendale High boys’ soccer Coach Tulio Marroquin saw his team play inspired and determined to defeat its cross-town rival in Friday’s Pacific League match at Hoover High. Hoover’s Kevin Cadenas saw his team “take a step back,” in its hopes to qualify for the postseason.
Marroquin was the one smiling in the end, despite fielding a depleted team that had its season drastically altered on Monday.
Marroquin said seven of his players quit Monday because “the team wasn’t winning.”
“Unfortunately, they didn’t have the love and passion for the sport,” he said. “I picked up some new players and they showed potential and what this team is going to be in the next two or three years. It’s a building process and it’s promising.”
Marroquin wasn’t surprised by his players’ decision to quit.
“They weren’t contributing positive energy,” he said. “It was a relief in a way. We had negative energy. It gives me an opportunity to build with a team that wants to play.
“I’m really proud of the way they played [Friday]. They fought from beginning to end.”
They also frustrated the Tornadoes (3-4-3, 2-2-3 in league), despite being outshot.
Hoover outshot the Nitros, 15-6, including, 6-3, on goal. Glendale (1-9-4, 0-4-3) didn’t have a shot on goal in the second half, as the Tornadoes dominated possession and had one shot after another either sail wide or above the crossbar.
The Tornadoes’ dissatisfaction with their play showed in the second half.
Hoover’s desperation and aggressiveness led to three yellow cards and pleads for calls from the referee. None of it made a difference.
“We had some missed chances,” Cadenas said. “We could’ve played better. Our mentality was not good.
“We had more opportunities to score goals. We had five, six chances that we could’ve made into goals.”
The Tornadoes kept the pressure on the Nitros in the waning minutes, but shots by Douglas Centeno and Argin Haghoubian each missed, sending Glendale home happy with a tie while the Tornadoes realized they face must-win matches in the second half of league.
Hoover is currently in fifth place in the standings with nine points, just behind Arcadia (10 points) for fourth and the league’s last automatic playoff berth. Crescenta Valley is in first with 17 points, followed by Pasadena (14) and Burroughs (13).
The Tornadoes take on the Indians on Monday at Burbank Luther Middle School in a critical league match.
“[Our tie] doesn’t take us out of the playoffs, but it was a setback,” Cadenas said. “We need to win Monday.”