Hart Gets Physical, Conquistadores Win

Hart High’s football team would have been proud.

Accepting that El Camino Real was better tactically, Hart chose to try to turn things into a physical boys’ soccer game by knocking the Conquistadors off the ball and giving them a few extra kicks.

The Indians’ plan nearly worked, but in the end the skill and smarts of El Camino Real pulled out a 2-1 victory Tuesday at Hart.

“That was my strategy,” Hart Coach Robert Ciccone said. “I don’t have good skilled players, so I have to go to the next best thing, playing physical.

“We are better physically than we are tactically.”

The Indians (1-2) stacked as many as eight defenders against high-powered El Camino Real, forcing the Conquistadores to take low percentage shots.

With the Conquistadores (3-0) keeping the Indians on their heels, Hart got the break it needed in the ninth minute.

Goalkeeper Kyle Reynish of Hart punted a ball that sailed three-fourths of the field, took a bounce and carried the other 15 yards in the air.

Goalkeeper Mike Sperber of El Camino Real came out and leaped to catch it, but forward Tim Sachs of Hart headed the ball out of his hands and into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

“We found the one mistake we were looking for,” Ciccone said. “We got a good counter-attack and tried to hold them.”

But with the Indians not taking a shot after the 20th minute, it was only a matter of time before the Conquistadores capitalized.

“They didn’t play with us, they ran with us,” said defender Zach Feldman of El Camino Real, whose team outshot Hart, 15-3. “Playing us is everybody’s championship game or World Cup. Everybody’s out to beat us.”

Forward Jason Lara of El Camino Real tied the score when he beat Reynish in the 22nd minute and scored the winning goal in the 74th minute.

“They are a great team,” Ciccone said. “Not only are they one of the best in the area, they are one of the best in the state.

“I’m proud of the way my boys played.”