Video grab via Twitter By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Maranatha coach Sam Mahtani said his focus all season was to get his Minutemen to be playing their best soccer this time of year. If the first two rounds of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs were any measuring stick, Mahtani succeeded. Maranatha got two goals from […]
Video grab via Twitter
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Maranatha coach Sam Mahtani said his focus all season was to get his Minutemen to be playing their best soccer this time of year.
If the first two rounds of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs were any measuring stick, Mahtani succeeded.
Maranatha got two goals from senior captain Michael Tufenkian and three assists from Leeland Oliver on corner kicks.
The Minutemen cruised past Campbell Hall, 4-1, on Wednesday night and will host Dunn (12-1-1) on Saturday evening. The game will either be at 3 or 5 p.m. but we won’t know until at least Thursday.
“We didn’t come out that strong in the first 10 minutes,” Mahtani said. “We peaked headed into the end of conference. We still have a ways to go. Our boys are playing at a high level, and win or lose, our biggest concern is the level we play.”
Josiah Rojas was solid in goal for Maranatha with 7 saves.
Chris Morales got Maranatha on the board in the 28th minute, when he headed in a ball from Oliver.
Tufenkian scored on a header in the 50th minute, and again, it was off an Oliver corner kick assist.
The Minutemen took a 3-0 lead in the 66th minute when Brenton Holstein passed the ball to Ezekial Funches who chipped the keeper.
Oliver and Tufenkian did it one more time in the 70th minute, and a 4-0 lead.
The only Campbell Hall goal came on what was described as a controversial penalty kick just 6 minutes before the game ended.
Tufenkian has 4 of the Maranatha 6 postseason goals.
Michael Tufenkian: “I think we’ve practiced corner kicks/free kicks and having the right crosses and our team together. We’ve all come together and learned a new style.
Through practices we’ve grown so much chemistry with one another, and we know where to be. To me, as a captain, I see my opportunities and try to execute as well as possible. Leland has been big because he’s very accurate. He also has long throw ins.”
Box Score:
Campbell Hall: 0-1-(1)
Maranatha: 1-3-(4)
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