Gonzalez, key player for the varsity boys’ soccer team
Jacob Gonzalez is trying to take the ball away from the opponent
September 28, 2013
Boys’ varsity soccer is starting off well. Bulldogs are overall 3-2 and beating West, Downey, and Kimball and losses against St. Mary’s and Sierra. Coach Phil Kalis believes that they need to improve on skills.
“The thing we need to improve more on is passing the ball more,” Kalis said.
Another downfall about the start of the season is that three seniors are injured at the moment. Adolfo Inguanzo, Cristian Ramos, and Jacob Gonzalez. Inguanzo has a recurring sprained ankle, while Ramos and Gonzalez have pulled hamstrings.
“Hopefully the injuries on the team will get better before league play starts,” said Kalis.
Senior Gonzalez has been standing out according to Kalis. He has been showing great leadership to all the player on the team.
“He is very encouraging to the other players,” said Kalis. “He has been constantly motivating the team and he plays with enthusiasm.”
Gonzalez just moved to Tracy last year and has been playing with the Bulldogs for two years. He wants to be a leader because he is a senior and all the sophomores look up to them.
“I am trying to give that step ahead that I did not give last year,” Gonzalez said. “So I want to show the sophomores and teach them what I know.”
The sophomore members of the team are able to gain both athletic skills and life skills from watching Gonzalez play.
Sophomore, Cameron Peterson, believes that as a senior Gonzalez is doing a great job.
“He is a captain that encourages the team to do better and makes the smartest decisions,” Gonzalez said.
Sophomore, Jake Pranke also has full faith in Gonzalez’s leadership.
“If our team is messing around, Jacob tells us to get focus and do what we are supposed to be doing,” Pranke said.
Gonzalez wants to pursue soccer at the collegiate level and has already been getting E-mails from universities.
“Playing at the college level is a dream,” Gonzalez said. “And I would maybe have a chance to play at the professional level if I work hard during college.”
Gonzalez’s top two colleges are Cal State Stanislaus University and University of California Merced. Gonzalez likes the soccer program at Stanislaus and at Merced they have the program International Relations that Gonzalez would like to pursue.
Gonzalez likes the experience at Tracy so far.
“It’s a pretty good school and I already had high expectations about this school,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has one major goal for this team and it’s just to will all of the games.
“A lot of my teammates play club soccer and have a good amount of knowledge about soccer,” Gonzalez said. “So with these talents, I believe we will do good this season.”
Tracy’s next league game is against Lodi at Tracy, at 4:45 P.M., on Oct. 2nd.
