GHS Mustangs, Stephanie Glenn and Karlie Sandoval are named to
CCS Field Hockey’s First-Team
This year, the Gilroy field hockey team advanced to the final four of the Central Coast Playoffs for the first time since Erin and Adam Gemar took over a struggling Gilroy field hockey eight years ago.
The program also experienced another first: Having two players named the CCS field hockey first team.
The Ground-Breaker
Questioning senior Karlie Sandoval’s determination isn’t a good idea.
In a game this season, Sandoval told a teammate that if she passed her the ball in the circle, she would score.
But Sandoval didn’t just want a goal. She wanted an “incredible” goal.
The next shot on goal was the exact play Sandoval had envisioned. She took the pass and tipped it high into the top left corner of the goal in a play that co-head coach Erin Gemar could only explain as one “you really don’t see in high school ever.”
Then there’s the countless times Sandoval has made mince meat of triple-team coverage, even against the Central Coast Section’s best defenders.
“It looks like she’s going to be swallowed up but she’ll just be able to dribble through them, ” Gemar said. “The other three are left behind and we’re like, ‘How did she do that?”
But they already know: Determination.
“When she decides she’s going to do it,” Gemar said. “She’s going to do it 110 percent.”
That work ethic has made Sandoval a repeat as a first-team all-CCS player and Gilroy field hockey’s first bona fide Division I prospect. The senior, who led the team in total points (38) this year with 12 goals, 20 assists and six second assists playing center midfield, is considering taking her game to Boston University, Davidson, Pacific, Stanford and Indiana.
Inspired by watching her older sister Jessica get into the sport, Sandoval began playing field hockey the summer before her freshman year at Gilroy High when she attended a camp in Morgan Hill. She made varsity that fall as a freshman and played club hockey for the Gemars in the spring, making field hockey a year-round commitment.
“It’s just a really different sport and once I learned a little bit, I wanted to learn more,” Sandoval said. “There are so many aspects to it.”
Field hockey has already taken the senior all over the U.S. to compete against the best players in the country. With USA Field Hockey’s Futures (an Olympic development program), Sandoval has attended camps, tournaments and festivals. All of it has helped her develop a dangerous arsenal of skills.
“She’ll learn skills (Adam and I) haven’t learned,” Erin Gemar said. “We can usually stay ahead of the girls we’re coaching.”
This past season, the Gilroy team cracked the final four of the CCS tournament for the first time since the Gemars took over a losing program eight years ago. Sandoval attributed the historic season to the year-round dedication of the entire team to the sport, a relatively new occurrence in the Gilroy program.
“It just happened over the past few years. Usually there are only one or two girls really into it,” Sandoval said.
In return, the Gilroy coaches believe team leader Sandoval’s skill and work ethic has been a direct factor in inspiring that movement.
It’s certainly put her at the forefront of the CCS right now. But what about the future?
“Gilroy could be represented in the Olympics some day if she continues putting in the time and the energy,” Gemar said. “I wouldn’t be surprised, with her passion and work ethic.”
The Queen of Versatility
Stephanie Glenn’s career as a goalie began as a joke. From fifth grade through freshman year of high school, she was a field player.
But during a club tournament spring of her freshman year, the team needed a goalie.
“I said, ‘Hey, I’ll do it,'” Glenn said. “It was natural for me.”
That was less than two years ago. Now, Glenn is considered the best goalie in CCS. The junior was the only goalie named to this year’s CCS first team.
Perhaps no moment established Glenn’s superiority in goal this year more than her exceptional play in the team’s win by penalty strokes after two overtimes against Los Gatos in the CCS playoffs. The Wildcats had twice as many shots on goal as the Mustangs. But the junior allowed just one goal in regulation and the overtimes and denied two penalty strokes to help Gilroy ultimately win.
“She’s not afraid,” said coach Adam Gemar. “To me, that’s a great asset…That’s where she shines, under pressure.”
Though Glenn never showed it that game, the junior admitted being fearful of getting in the goal during the penalty round.
“I like being in that position because I feel I can get the job done, but also I don’t because I don’t like letting the team down,” Glenn said. “It’s a love/hate relationship.”
But it works. Teammate Sandoval added that Glenn has “the heart to play goalie.”
“During practice breaks, I’ll take shots at her,” Sandoval said. “We don’t get water.”
Glenn, also a skilled soccer player, made Gilroy’s varsity team as a field player. So when the Gemars decided to move her to goalie, they took some heat.
“People said ‘Don’t, you’re going to lose such an athlete on the field,'” Adam Gemar said. “But I said no way. One of your best players needs to be goalie. You can’t just throw anyone in there.”
Adam Gemar said Glenn is one of the most natural athletes on the team, but that her instincts put her a cut above.
Glenn, who allowed just five goals for a better than 90 percent save rate, has played with the USA Field Hockey Futures program and participated in the Junior Olympics. Next year, she hopes to make the Futures Elite squad.
As for next year’s high school season, Glenn’s wish is to see Gilroy make another run for the CCS title. On a more personal level, she doesn’t want anything getting past her in the net.
“I only let five past this season,” Glenn said. “I don’t want to let any in (next season).”
All-CCS Second Team; Dana Schoeneman, Jr.
This season, the junior midfielder became known as the scorer with the powerful shot.
“During warm-ups before games, I know a lot of times girls (from other teams) were afraid of Dana’s hits because her hits are huge,” Adam Gemar said.
Schoeneman, the team’s No. 1 striker on short corner opportunities, led the team in goals with 14. She finished with 29 total points on the year, more than double her 2004 total.
“She’s a well-rounded player,” Adam Gemar said. “Dana’s skills really, really improved.”
The junior was an All-MTAL honorable mention.
Erin Magill, Jr.
Magill, the MTAL Junior of the Year, was a key part of the Gilroy defense this season. But she also showed her versatility by playing some midfield, scoring six goals and finishing the season with 23 total points.
Adam Gemar said Magill’s field hockey play has been improved by her softball background. As a sophomore, Magill was named to the All-TCAL softball team.
“What helps Erin is her softball play and her hand-eye coordination, ” Adam Gemar said. “Erin really picked up technical skills.”
CCS Honorable Mention; Amanda Spellman, So.
A true student of field hockey, Spellman established herself as the communicator on the field that kept the Mustangs on the same page.
“On the field and off, she’s a great communicator,” Adam Gemar said. “(Amanda) wants to know every trick in the book and she’s not afraid to use them.”
The sophomore scored seven goals and had eight assists for the season.
GHS Field Hockey
MTAL All-League
Karlie Sandoval
Erin Magill
Amanda Spellman
Stephanie Glenn
Honorable Mention
Dana Schoeneman
Brittany Simpson
Lindsey Valadez
Russhelle Preeshl
Senior of the Year:
Karlie Sandoval
Junior of the Year:
Erin Magill
Freshman of the Year:
Laura Spellman
Sportsmanship Award:
Heather Link
GHS Football
All-CCS
First Team:
Bobby Best OL/DL, Sr.
Second Team:
Justin Sweeney RB, Sr.
Honorable Mention:
Neil Martin K, Sr.
GHS Girls Volleyball
TCAL All-League
Second Team
Jessica Groppe OH, Sr.
Katherine Hussey S/OP, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Brianna Balanesi DS, So.
Kayla Meazell OH, Jr.
Sara Griffis OP, Sr.
Sportsmanship Award:
Jennifer Smith S, Jr.
GHS Cross Country
All-TCAL
Arnulfo Velasquez, Sr.
Anthony Dragotto, Sr.
The Karlie Sandoval File
– Two-time All-CCS First Team (2004, 2005)
– 2005 MTAL All-League, Senior of the Year
– Nina Edwards Alumni Scholarship winner
– 2005: Led team in total points with 38
– 2005: 12 goals, 20 assists, 6 second assists
– 2004: 32 total points
The Stephanie Glenn File
– All-CCS First Team (2005)
– 2005 MTAL All-League
– 2005: Just 5 goals allowed
– 2005: Over 90 percent save rate
