Hampton-Dumont-CAL senior Fernando Mota made boys soccer program history, and the team dominated Charles City 7-1 in Tuesday’s 2A Substate 2 first round playoff game, as aired on 99 The Wave.
Mota scored five goals, all in the first half, and became the program’s all-time goal scoring leader, breaking the record on his second goal. He scored just before halftime to help put the game out of reach.
Christian Zavala also scored in the first half, and Silas Buseman added one late in the second half to seal the win.
Mota on his night, where he increased his career goal total to 34.
“I just felt very confident going into this game,” Mota says. “My teammates were really supporting me too. They were giving me passes. The fans too, I really love the fans. They come out and support even when it’s raining. Really bad weather today, but they still came out to support, so I really like the motivation they gave me.”
“It helps having his talent and the team around him,” Head Coach Danielle Arana says. “Like he’s good, but the team around him, they play him so well. He plays off of them, they play off of him. And so they just have a good flow with each other. And that’s what helps all of them become so successful. And I mean, he’s a talented player. And so he’s giving those balls just like they are to him. And just working together, we’ve really pushed on being a passing team. I always just tell them, like pass the ball, because you know somebody can chase you but they can’t chase the ball as fast, and we’ve really been working on that a lot throughout the whole entire season. Today I just think the passing and the moving and shifting and just becoming one is really what helped all of them including Fernie be so successful today.”
The Bulldogs (10-3-3) will play at #9 (2A) AP/DNH a substate semifinal on Tuesday, May 27.
Danielle Arana:
Fernando Mota:
