Girls Soccer: Livermore Falls 3-1 to James Logan at the Tri-Valley Classic

James Logan 3, Livermore 1

The Star: Livermore junior Kianna Molano scored the Cowboys' only goal, tying the score 1-1 in the 27th minute.

The Turning Point: After a 1-1 first half, James Logan took control early in the second, taking a 2-1 lead on midfielder Priscilla Haro's goal in the 45th minute, with an assist from Gabrielle Stange.

The Quote: "At times we start four freshmen and four sophomores. It's a challenge when you go up against any team of juniors and seniors," Livermore coach Jason Maratsos said.

What's next? The Cowboys continue play in the ninth-annual Tri-Valley Classic with their final two of four games Tuesday, facing Cabrillo at 8:30 a.m. and Albany at 3:30 p.m. Both games are at Diablo Vista Park in Danville.

Bottom Line: James Logan had too much skill and experience for a young Livermore team and took control in the second half.

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It's no secret that construction projects take time, even in soccer.

So when girls soccer coach Jason Maratsos put together a roster with four freshmen and four sophomores, he realized there would be some tough lessons to be learned this season with the promise of brighter years to come.

"It's a learning experience," Maratsos said Monday night after the Cowboys suffered a 3-1 loss to an experienced James Logan team in their second match of the Tri-Valley Classic at Danville's Sycamore Valley Park. "We're trying to rebuild the whole program.

"It's growing pains we're going through. It's frustrating as a coach. It definitely tests your patience. You hope that by the end of the season you take some steps."

Earlier in the day, Livermore opened the tournament by beating Northgate 2-0, getting a goal apiece from midfielder Marissa Scheid and forward Damera Dodd. Then the Cowboys ran into a senior-laden Colts team from Union City that features sophomore sensation Paloma Zermeno.

Zermeno, who started playing soccer at the age of 4, scored two goals. She put the Colts ahead 1-0 with a breakaway goal in the 27th minute. She got behind the Livermore defense, took a pass from Gabrielle Stange and popped a shot over the head of Cowboys goalie Emily Slominski, who came out high and tried to stop her.

"She's a good player," Maratsos said of Zermeno. "She controls the ball very well. She gave our girls fits. Quite frankly, she was too skilful for the girls we had back there."

Two minutes after Zermeno scored her first goal, Livermore tied the game 1-1 on Kianna Molano's blast from short-range.

The Colts, though, owned the second half. At the 45th minute, Priscilla Haro took a crossing pass from Stange down the left sideline and slammed home a goal.

Scheid nearly knotted the score eight minutes later, but James Logan goalie Preslee Rivera made a diving save.

Zermeno clinched the victory in the 79th minute with her second goal on another breakaway. This time she scored with a right-footed shot to the left corner of the net.

"They took us out of our game," Maratsos said. "They pretty much dominated the pace of the game. They beat us to the ball. We were on our heels."

With the loss, Livermore fell to 3-4. The Cowboys are 0-2 in the rugged EBAL with losses to Cal and Foothill.

"We're in the toughest league in California, some would argue one of the toughest in the nation," Maratsos said. "No game is easy."

Especially with such a young team.

"It is what it is," he said. "If nothing else, this team is definitely a lot tighter than the team I had last year. There aren't those little cliques going on. That bodes well for the program."

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