Coyotes lethargic in loss
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera’s Julian Ramirez (7) battles with a Reedley defender in Friday’s loss to the Pirates. Ramirez scored Madera’s lone goal in the match in Memorial Stadium.
The Madera Coyotes scored the first goal of the game against the Reedley Pirates, but couldn’t do much else in a non-conference loss in Memorial Stadium.
“There was no energy, no leadership,” head coach Nic Landeros said. “If we don’t do the little things right, we’ll lose the game. It’s the basics. When you play any sport, you have to bring urgency and energy. It wasn’t there for us today.”
The Pirates tied the score in the fourth minute of the second half and added a goal in the 24th minute to record the victory Friday afternoon.
“There was a lot of excuses about the weather being hot,” Landeros said. “It’s hot for everyone on the field, not just for the 11 in blue, but for all 22 players. I was disappointed with the effort, or lack thereof.”
Julian Ramirez scored Madera’s lone goal, but the Coyotes couldn’t take advantage of six solid chances on goal in the first half. However, in the second half, Reedley had to go to a back-up goalkeeper who was a defender in the first half and the Coyotes had just one shot on goal in the half.
“We had so many opportunities in the first half,” Landeros said. “If we finish those chances, we put this team away because it’s 4-0 at halftime. We’re just not efficient yet. We’ll get there. It will be a little bit more time.”
Part of the lack of offensive production could be pointed to senior captain Jonah Hill, who didn’t play for most of the second half with an injury.
“Jonah is battling hamstring injuries,” Landeros said. “ It’s one of those things we went super hard without adjusting after quarantine and it’s catching up. The fitness is not there where we would like to be. There’s no excuse for having no work ethic and not bringing the energy. When Jonah is not on the field, our attack lacks.”
Of the six chances Madera had in the first half, Hill had his feet (or head) on five of them.
In the 28th minute of the first half, Ramirez stole the ball at midfield. He dribbled down the right sideline, getting past defenders and worked his way to the middle of the field. He sent a shot to the far corner past the goalkeeper for Madera’s lone goal of the game.
“Julian got a great goal out of nothing,” Landeros said. “That’s promising because he’s a sophomore.”
Four minutes into the second half, Reedley got a corner kick. The kick was sent on the ground and the ball found its way to the front of the net where it was touched by a Reedley player over goalkeeper Chris Arias’ head under the crossbar for the game-tying goal.
Twenty minutes later, Reedley got open on the right with the ball. The attacker sent a high shot inside the far post over Arias’ head for the go-ahead goal.
Madera’s best, and only, chance in the second half came in the 35th minute on a corner kick. However, Isaac Pinedo’s kick went across the face of the goal to the opposite side and was cleared by Reedley.
Madera played Kerman on Tuesday and will play at Mendota on Friday.
