An experienced Mustangs soccer team as the tools for fifth
straight league crown
It took the Gilroy High girls varsity soccer team five games to post its first goal and six to earn win No. 1 last season.
Not this year.
Senior captain Indra Garcia put her right foot on a pretty volley from sophomore Taylor Slattery, connecting with the ball in midair and tucking it into the top left corner of the net as the Mustangs opened the season with a 1-0 victory over visiting Santa Teresa on Wednesday night.
“We got our one,” seventh-year head coach Jose Hernandez said with a grin. “Not bad for our first game. It’s the first time we have beaten Santa Teresa. These games against ‘A’ league teams are our test.”
Though a win in the first game doesn’t exactly mean much in the long run of a 20-game regular season, the Mustangs haven’t been at their best over the last four seasons in non-league play, going 9-18-8 in that span. Compare that to a dominating league mark of 40-2-6 en route to four straight Tri-County Athletic League championships and these early season victories do pay dividends toward the Mustangs’ goals and expectations for the season.
“Our preseason games become the place where we have to get things going, get our speed and formation to where we need it,” Hernandez said. “We have to find that challenge. We have to be able to work through our mistakes as well as successes – head down, work through. Nothing is given to us. We have to be the best people we can be.”
The Mustangs were at their best during the 2009-10 campaign cruising through league an unbeaten 12-0 and piling up a staggering 62 goals, or more than five per outing, while yielding only three scores.
GHS earned a first-round bye into the quarterfinals for the second consecutive season and hosted a Central Coast Section playoff game where it was eliminated by Mountain View.
“Before we start, I really check myself in two areas, did I push each girl to their potential and did we do it as a team? That’s what I always evaluate and that’s what always leads to the changes,” Hernandez said.
The differences fall in style of play rather than the players executing the game plan.
Twelve girls return this season, including all five league award recipients – senior captain midfielder Katelyn Nebesnick, junior sweeper Monique Barragan, sophomore forward Cynthia Sanchez, Garcia and the team’s leading scorer Taylor Slattery, who netted 15 tallies in her freshman campaign.
Also back on the turf is senior Alex Maldonado, who booted 12 goals in 2009-10.
Adding even more speed up top is senior forward Erin Slattery, who missed most of her junior season due to an ankle injury, but showcased her quickness during Wednesday’s
victory. She will serve as the Gilroy’s third
captain.
“The captains have really brought a good attitude,” Hernandez said. “The players’ points are to have no cliques and work as one.”
Senior Sarina Sandoval makes the move from defense to goalie and came up with three saves in her first go at it Wednesday.
The Mustangs possess speed at every position and Hernandez is prepared to take advantage of all of it.
“We are working a lot on being realistic about what we need and learning to push,” Hernandez said. “This year it’s our expectations and the formation.”
The Mustangs will play a do-or-die type formation 4-5-1.
“It’s a risk and reward,” he said.
Gilroy hosts Aptos in non-league action Friday at 6 p.m. at GHS.
