Gilroy High field hockey team begins season Friday with 10
seniors on the team
By Marc David Sports Editor
Gilroy – Don’t expect a drop-off in Gilroy field hockey, even if Karlie Sandoval is no longer part of the program.
Sandoval has taken her stickwork skills to Boston University, and defensive stalwart Heather Link is gone as well.
And yet the Mustangs boast more experience than they have ever had in the eight-year tenure of co-head coaches Erin and Adam Gemar with 10 players who started at some point last year returning.
Nevertheless, equaling or topping the team record last year when they lost only twice figures to be a challenge as the Gemars have stacked the schedule with all the top nearby A Division schools.
The opener is Friday at Los Gatos, who Gilroy upended last year in the Central Coast Section quarterfinals.
“We use to get killed by them 6-1,” Adam Gemar said. “That is a real benchmark for us to see how we do.”
But the schedule doesn’t get any easier. Erin Gemar pointed out that the Mustangs face powerhouse Archbishop Mitty three times before the CCS playoffs. There are also matches against Saratoga and St. Francis, as well as league foe North Salinas.
“People are asking how we’ll do without Karlie,” said Adam Gemar of the player he says was the best stick handler he has seen at GHS. “We have girls here who are experienced. The chemistry is great because the girls are all good friends. Without chemistry, you’re in a world of hurt.”
Leading the returnees from a team Adam Gemar said yielded just nine goals is keeper Stephanie Glenn. She is surrounded by defensive players Dana Schoeneman, Erin Magill, Jaimie Silva and Lindsey Valadez. Kelly Perkins, who had a team-high 14 goals, returns. In fact, six of the top seven overall scorers — Schoeneman, Roshi Preeshi, Magill, Perkins, Amanda Spellman and Laura Spellman — are all back. There are several talented newcomers. And freshman Elise Ogle is experienced, having played field hockey since fourth grade.
That illustrates just how much the program has grown during the tenure of the Gemars. In Erin Gemar’s first year at GHS when she served as junior varsity coach, the varsity was 0-14.
Numbers this year are phenomenal, far surpassing the expectations of the coaches. Erin Gemar said she would have been happy to get 50 girls out just once. This year, 60 reported for the first practice.
“We’re top heavy with experience,” Erin Gemar said. “We have 10 seniors on the team. I don’t think we’ve ever had that many before.”
Even the junior varsity team is well-stocked with 29 on the current roster. Erin Gemar said. They have two teams of JVs good enough to play.
Then there is the “secret weapon” of both teams. Ten-month-old Kai Gemar, born hours before last year’s 3-0 win over Del Mar in the CCS quarterfinals, was up at 5 a.m. and at double practice sessions during the summer.
“He made it easier for the girls to get through practice,” Erin said. “If they were tired, he’d smile at them and make it easier for them. He’s a trooper.”
Junior varsity coach Armando Padilla and his wife, Dianne, have 4-month-old toddler Bella in tow as well.
Both teams have experienced remarkable success over the last few years. The varsity is 34-1-3 in league during the last three years.
The big name may be missing this year. But there are plenty of familiar faces around to help keep the Mustangs going at full gallop.
