Spring Creek avenges loss to county foe

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 21, 2012 1:48 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek recorded just one shot on goal in the second half on Thursday evening.

It proved to be a big one.

Otto Binar scored the go-ahead goal in stoppage time and the Gators slipped past Southern Wayne 4-3 and earned a splt in the regular-season series.

Spring Creek wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Brayan Lopez headed Juan Vega's pass past Saints' keeper Alejandro Sandoval in the fifth minute.

The Saints began to pressure the Gators' defense and earned a corner kick in the 10th minute. Cesar Benitez's header in the 19th minute was saved by Spring Creek keeper Jose Sanchez-Garcia.

The Gators were whistled for a handball inside the 18-yard box and Benitez's penalty kick tied the game at 1-1 in the 22nd minute.

Spring Creek (4-1-2 overall) began to control play in the midfield which resulted in more possession and scoring opportunities. Lopez's shot off Vega's assist in the 32nd minute pushed the Gators in front 2-1.

Lopez extended the advantage to 3-1 off Binar's assist in the 35th minute.

"I told the guys to start the game with 100 percent intensity," Spring Creek assistant coach Jeff Sullivan said. "They never stopped."

Southern Wayne pulled to within 3-2 on Benitez's penalty kick in the 47th minute. Anuar Ramirez collected a loose ball inside the 18-yard box and scored to tie the game at 3-3 in the 51st minute.

The Saints (6-3-1) squandered scoring opportunities down the stretch, including Billy Gonzales' shot that missed just wide in stoppage time.

"In the second half we had more scoring opportunities," Southern Wayne head coach Mario Aguilar said. "That is the type of game we needed mentally. So far, it looks like the things we are trying are working."

With time winding down, David Vega lobbed a high, arching pass over multiple Saints defenders and into the 18-yard box. Binar settled the pass and slipped a shot past Sandoval to put the Gators ahead 4-3.