Piedmont High School’s boys soccer team battled San Leandro to a 1-1 tie at Burrell Field on Jan. 14. The Highlanders got out quick, scoring in the fourth minute. The goal was set up after Gianluca Bini got a redirection toward the net but the save was made, resulting in a corner kick. Roman Ahearn took the kick and Harper Mand put the ball in the net.
The Pirates quickly got the equalizer when Damian Padilla sent a cross to Miguel Moreno, who put the ball past Lucas Malecki at 10 minutes. That was it for the scoring. Malecki made a save on a direct kick in the 55th minute.
“I feel like the ideas are there but it’s just that final piece of getting in the final third and really putting a goal away and having that competitive mindset to go and win rather than settling for a tie,” Piedmont coach Ben Russell said. “The goal early was a good start. We had some good concepts early and then we sort of eased off and got too comfortable, allowed them back into the game and then the last five-10 minutes we have to up the tempo again and go a bit harder so. We can’t keep dropping in and out of games. We need to maintain consistency throughout.”
On Jan. 10, the Highlanders beat visiting Encinal, 10-0. Bini had four goals and an assist to lead Piedmont. Bosco Lorin had three goals. Ahearn, Eli Dao-Hoang and Logan Faucher had the other goals. Russell Pan and Henry Devan had two assists apiece. Jacob Rodriguez, Nikolas Markopoulos and Callum Long also had assists.
Piedmont is next scheduled to play against Berkeley at Witter Field on Jan. 17.