There’s no rule in sports that says the best team, or even the team that plays better on that particular day, is always going to win.  The Wilson Bruins learned that lesson the hard way yesterday afternoon at home in the first round of the CIF playoffs as Huntington Beach escaped with a 2-1 victory on Yair Sanchez’s game-winner in the 66th minute.

The Bruins dominated every statistical category including possession, shots (15-to-9) fouls committed (4-to-13) corner kicks (4-to-2) and offsides (1-to-4).

“They had three real quality goes at goal and they scored two of them,” said Wilson coach Mark Hervin. “Give them credit, they were two scrappy goals, but I think we were dominate… there is a lot of luck in this game, and today wasn’t our day, congrats to them.”

Wilson didn’t help themselves in the early going by pushing high and giving up a counter attack.  On a quick restart off the throw in the 5th minute, Trevor Geery flicked it on with his head, and Jonathan Ayala was in perfect position to burry a header of his own for the early 1-0 lead.

Huntington Beach stuck to the game plan after the goal, which looked a lot like the Wilson game plan throughout this entire year: defend, work high and wide and be good in the air off the set pieces.  That created a lot of end to end action and the teams kept each other running, but Wilson was able to build some play and earned three great chances in front of goal in the 22nd, 30th and 31st minute from Alexis Marin, DJ Koenen and Tony Gonzalez. 

The Bruins went back to the basics for the equalizing goal in the 36th minute when Jake Armstrong put a nice long throw into the middle of the box.  Frank Nagao out jumped the taller Oiler defenders and netted the header to send in to the half tied, 1-1.

The second half, and really most of the game, all boiled down to the 66th and 67th minute.  It started with Huntington Beach working wide to Max Talbert.  He was able to earn a throw in, and the subsequent play won the game.  The ball off the long throw bounced high at the edge of the box, and trickled through as players from both teams swung and missed.  It rolled all the way to the far side of the box, where Sanchez was waiting.  He went hard at goal, and his first shot was deflected, but his second snuck inside the near post for the eventual game-winner.

Less than a minute later, Wilson earned a corner kick and Marin’s service was perfect.  It landed right in the middle of the box, but unlike Sanchez who ran through the ball hard for his score, it seemed to wait for the Bruins.  For at least a two count, it just sat there in front of goal before an Oiler defender cleared it.

Huntington Beach packed in the defense after that, but Armstrong continued to threaten with his long throws and cannon for a leg off the set pieces.  It looked like he had found the answer to Sanchez’s goal in the 79th minute when Gonzalez flicked on a header from another long throw, but it went just high over the crossbar.

“I’m extremely proud of this team… they deserved the win,” said Hervin.  “Their effort and commitment was outstanding, and I get 12 of them back… it was a pleasure to coach them this season.”