By Keith Rainville
Sports Editor

2-21-2008

The Broncos soccer team beat New Community Jewish High School on Tuesday to advance to today’s quarterfinal match-up, in Bishop at 3 p.m., against Division 6 No. 3 seeded Desert Hot Springs.

Bishop feel behind 0-2 in the first half on the road at New Community in West Hills. The Jaguars came out of the gate firing, tallying the two quick goals against the run of play to surprise the Broncos. For Bishop, it was the first time the Broncos had trailed by two goals all season long.
Bishop was controlling possession in the first half and generating good shots, but the Jaguars managed to score on a dead ball play.

On Tuesday in the second round of the Division 6 playoffs and trailing 1-2, Jiovanni Santana scored a penalty kick similar to this one (picture from the Southlands game) to tie the game at 2-2. The Broncos continued the comeback to win 5-2. Bishop hosts Desert Hot Springs today at 3 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Photo by Keith Rainville

“They had a corner kick and we had a defensive breakdown,” said Bishop head coach John McGurke. “The kick bent in to the back post for a goal.”
McGurke said the goal took the wind out of Bishop’s sails. “We mentally checked out for the rest of the half and played very tight,” said McGurke. “On their second goal we had a miscommunication between our Gardiel Santana and Hugo Villalpando.”
Gardiel, Bishop’s goal keeper, came sprinting out of goal to clear a ball, but Villalpando was also trying to make a play on the dangerous ball. Gardiel’s one-touch clearance kick unfortunately hit Villalpando and ricocheted into the back of Bishop’s net.
Luckily for the Broncos, the halftime break came at a perfect time. “We had a pretty serious gut check at the half,” said McGurke. “I told them that if we just kept playing Bishop soccer that we have the ability to score many goals.
“Tyler Thomas exhibited great leadership,” continued McGurke. During the halftime break he helped “rally his teammates for the comeback victory.”
In the second half, the Broncos went about making the comeback happen. Goal keeper Gardiel and the Bishop defense put the clamps on the Jaguars, shutting out the home team in the second half and paving the way for the win.
Chris Santana ignited the comeback in the first five minutes of the second half, breaking down the Jaguars’ D and scoring to cut the deficit to one goal.
Jiovanni Santana, Bishop’s offensive leader, turned on the gas in the second half as well. “Jiovanni scored two goals including a penalty kick to tie the game at 2-2,” said McGurke.
When Jiovanni’s PK tied the game at 2, the momentum clearly switched sides. Solid conditioning and consistent pressure helped the Broncos overwhelm New Community in the final 30 minutes. Jiovanni’s second goal of the game gave Bishop its first lead at 3-2.
“They kinda fell apart at the end,” McGurke said.
Adrian Santana both scored goals for Bishop as did Diego Gonzalez. The Jaguars couldn’t stop the avalanche once it started, and the Broncos pulled away for the 5-2 win.
“The game was a good reminder for us,” added McGurke. “We fell behind Mammoth 0-1 to start the season and rallied for a 6-1 win and we fell behind at the Garces Tournament Finals 0-1 and rallied to tie for the championship.”
With the win, Bishop advanced to the Elite Eight to host Desert Christian today at 3 p.m. on the John Schwab Field. The Eagles won the De Anza League and beat Ontario Christian and Oakwood to reach the game in Bishop. The two schools played each other in the opening round of the football playoffs this year, with the Broncos coming away with an exciting last-minute win. It’s also interesting to note that both Bishop soccer teams eliminated New Community’s squads and the Lone Pine boys basketball team knocked the Jaguar hoop team out of the playoffs as well.