SAN MATEO, CA – Aragon had plenty to smile about despite the wet conditions in its final regular season contest against Half Moon Bay en route to a 2-0 win Friday.
The victory not only gave the Dons (12-5-2 overall, 9-3-2 PAL-Bay) their sixth win in their last eight games, but also closed the team’s season with an automatic bid in the CCS tournament – something no Aragon soccer team had obtained before competing in the Bay Division.
After a back-and-forth start to the game, Aragon adjusted its 4-3-3 offense, seeking more control, which it was able to accomplish by sending two forwards up high ahead of the ball.
With that design, the Dons were able to create open opportunities off cross-field passes to the middle. Half Moon Bay (4-13-2 overall, 2-9-2 PAL-Bay) was able to chase down Aragon on several attempts, but in the 32th minute, Aragon striker Josh Pearlman found forward Ricky Diaz for an assist. After creating enough separation from his opponent off a crossover to launch the ball to Diaz, who was then able to slide the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
“Basically today, we just wanted to go at [Half Moon Bay] hard offensively. We were emphasizing the wide play,” said Aragon head coach Greg Markoulakis. “We knew that when we had played Half Moon Bay before, that we attacked them on the outside. The boys were instructed to take as much space as they could outside and cross the ball in to the middle. We knew they were stronger in the central area and so we took them from the outside.”
The Dons exerted their offensive ability throughout the game by continuing to work the ball along the sidelines, passing between the wings and midfielder and finding goal attempts inside of 20 yards.
The Dons’ second successful goal came in the 47th minute from midfielder Liam Laird, who was able to use his height to leap above his opponents and head the ball in to extend his team’s lead to 2-0.
The Cougars had several opportunities to score on the break after midfielder Christian Martinez advanced the ball ahead to his teammates. Half Moon Bay midfielder Miguel Acosta received the ball on a handful of occasions within the Cougars’ 4-5-1 scheme, but struggled to get a clean attempt once the Dons’ defense returned into position.
“[The Aragon defenders] added a lot of pressure,” said Half Moon Bay head coach Jeff Turgeon. “What I like to do is when I have my back four, I try to push one of my players up a little higher and keep one a little lower to act as a sweeper almost, so I have more numbers. It didn’t work as well today though. Aragon just had really strong forwards. Possession-wise, they just dominated the game.”
Aragon will learn its CCS playoff fate Saturday afternoon. The Dons are expected to be placed in Division II and could earn a first-round home game.
