Hobbton scored three goals in the second half to earn a 3-1 win over Princeton in its home opener Monday evening.
Princeton applied pressure early, creating several opportunities against the Wildcat’s backline and goalkeeper Javier Escalera. The Wildcats generated their first chance through Anthony Diaz, but his attempt was off target.
With 22 minutes left in the first half, Princeton pushed forward down the right wing before a tackle by Hobbton’s Jonathan Salazar forced the ball out of bounds. Hobbton responded with a counterattack, but its attempt missed wide.
Diaz later sent another shot over the goal before Diego Bustamante had an attempt blocked by a Princeton defender.
The Bulldogs answered with a counterattack, sending their left winger forward with a through ball. Salazar tracked back and timed a sliding tackle that sent the ball into Escalera’s hands, ending the threat.
Hobbton quickly pushed the other way and earned a corner. The ball landed among a group of Wildcats in front of goal, but Princeton’s goalkeeper secured it before Hobbton could get another attempt away.
With nine minutes remaining before halftime, Hobbton continued creating opportunities. Adrian Molina played a ball into the box that resulted in another corner. On the ensuing play, the ball rolled through traffic and struck the inside of the post before Princeton cleared it away.
Diaz created another chance before halftime with a shot from outside the box that forced Princeton’s goalkeeper to make the save, sending the teams into halftime scoreless.
Hobbton broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half, converting a low shot into the left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Molina later went forward one-on-one with Princeton’s goalkeeper before being called for a foul. Keifer Montes then attempted to send Molina through with another pass, but the ball was just beyond his reach.
Princeton answered when a Hobbton foul resulted in a free kick. The ensuing shot went over Escalera and into the goal to even the score at 1-1.
Following a water break, Hobbton resumed its attack. The Wildcats earned a corner before Diaz tested the goalkeeper from distance, sending his attempt wide right.
With 13 minutes remaining, freshman Silvano Sanchez received a pass going forward, created space and found the net to give Hobbton a 2-1 lead. It was Sanchez’s first goal as a Wildcat.
Daniel Espino added another goal shortly afterward, extending Hobbton’s advantage to 3-1.
Princeton had one final scoring opportunity, but the attempt went off target before the final whistle.
“First half, we were kind of sluggish,” Hobbton head coach Christian Vega said following the game. “We couldn’t really move the ball, weren’t moving in the field, and that could be due to the heat.”
Vega saw a different response after halftime.
“In the second half, the boys came out and reacted well,” he explained. “They were winning the 50-50 balls in the air, attacking well in the third, building up and making movements. With those options, we scored our three goals in the second half to win.”
Vega emphasized that the second-half performance was what he asked of his players at halftime.
“I told them I wanted to see a different team in the second half, and they did that,” he said. “The energy and determination from those boys — they went out and executed.”
The win was Hobbton’s first of the season after its scheduled opener was canceled because of rain.
“The expectation is always the same as last year,” Vega expressed. “We gotta compete for everything that we have. There’s two titles in the league we can play for, and we’re going to compete until the end. If we have to make some tweaks along the journey, then we will.”
Diaz pointed to Hobbton’s ability to maintain possession and move forward in the second half.
“We were gassing them out, building up and getting through them easily,” Diaz said.
For Diaz, getting the first win was the result he wanted.
“That’s what I wanted from the start,” he emphasized. “Since yesterday (Monday), I wanted to win. All glory to God that we won this game.”
Hobbton’s backline limited Princeton’s opportunities during much of the second half. Salazar credited communication among the defenders and Escalera.
“We were just talking along with the keeper (Escalera); he sees the whole field, so he gives us a heads up on what to do,” Salazar explained. “As a captain, I want to lead the backline, make sure we’re good.”
Salazar said the group’s experience playing together has helped with communication.
“It was our second year straight with everyone on the defense playing together, so we have a little bit of chemistry going on,” he added. “I talk to each one of them, no matter what happens, good things or bad things. I try to make sure they’re OK, and that they stay out of their heads; a mistake is a mistake, and we move on from there.”
For Salazar, a senior, opening the home schedule with a victory in front of the Hobbton crowd carried additional meaning.
“It’s amazing,” he emphasized. “With this being my senior year, I want to win as many games as possible. I’m grateful for the fans coming out, supporting us, cheering us on, giving us the support that we need to finish off the game and the strength that we needed. I’m just really grateful; it was a beautiful win.”
Princeton entered Monday’s game having scored 12 goals in its first two contests, defeating its opponents 3-2 and 9-0. Hobbton held the Bulldogs to one goal in the win.
Hobbton returns home Thursday, Aug. 20, to face Triad Math and Science Academy at 6 p.m. With a forfeit from last week, Hobbton’s record moves to 1-1.