Win makes it three in a row against Trojans
Playing at home Tuesday, the Gilroy girls’ soccer team beat Alisal for the third time this season.
Unlike the first two meetings, though, nothing came easy in this one.
The Mustangs (9-3), who beat the Trojans 4-0 and 3-1 at last month’s Silver Creek Tournament, held on for a 2-1 victory this time – but only after a tense final few minutes.
The Trojans (6-5) had a wide-open chance, but clunked it off the left post. Then, with just a few seconds remaining, it initially looked like they connected on the game-tying score. The shot was ruled a no-goal by the referee, however.
The call was disputed by Alisal players and coaches, who claimed the ball arched in the air and went through an opening at the lower left side of the net.
If it went through the opening, though, GHS head coach Jose Hernandez wanted to know how it ended up bouncing to the outfield fence of the baseball stadium.
“That was the key to me … the way the ball bounced,” he said. “If it had gone through the net, it wouldn’t have kept bouncing like that.”
As for the goals that weren’t disputed, Gilroy midfielder Amanda Bruce scored in the first half on an unassisted goal. Then, less than a minute after Alisal tied the game midway through the second, fellow sophomore Stephanie Glenn gave the ‘Stangs back the lead on an assist from junior forward Brittany Barnes.
Even with the victory, though, the squeaker was unnecessarily tense for Bruce’s liking.
“It shouldn’t have been that close,” she said. “I didn’t think we played that well. It was way too close.”
Her coach agreed.
Hernandez said the Mustangs left gaping holes in the middle of their defense and missed several opportunities on offense.
But for a team that won all of one game on the field last season, the bottom line is still that 9-3 record as the team heads into a three-week break before the start of league play Jan. 6.
“I don’t think I would’ve predicted 9-3 … that’s not something I was expecting,” Hernandez said. “But the scary part is, instead of being happy about it, I’m made because we should’ve won by more today.
“But I’m still very proud of the girls.”
