Bruce scores third goal of season in 3-1 loss to North
Salinas
GILROY – The Lady Mustang kickers were in a position they had not been in since beginning their Tri-County Athletic League schedule when freshman Amanda Bruce gave Gilroy a 1-0 lead in the first half of Friday’s home clash with North Salinas.
“It felt kinda weird,” said senior Alysha Davis of taking the early lead. “I thought we were going to win. I think everyone did.”
The visiting Lady Vikings quickly matched the strike to tie the score at 1-1 going into halftime, but still the hosts were feeling confident that they would collect their first league victory of the season.
“I thought we had this one,” said first-year head coach Jose Hernandez, who watched North Salinas score two unanswered goals in the second half to down Gilroy, 3-1. “It’s a tough one. We were in it. Those goals were just killers.”
Bruce, who leads the Lady Mustangs with three goals this season, chased down a boot sent into the attack zone by teammate Megan Olea and deposited the ball into the back of the net. It was Gilroy’s first goal in league since its league opening loss to North Salinas, 5-2.
“We had a goal, so we definitely met one of the goals. We were trying to improve our offense and they came through,” Hernandez said. “Defensively, we were just a little depleted today.”
The Lady Mustang defense was without starters Dulce Alonso (collarbone) and Margaret Burton (broken foot) due to injury as well as center fullback Lizzette Gonzalez.
In the opening 10 minutes of the second half, North Salinas stunned the Lady Mustangs with back-to-back goals to make it a two-goal spread.
Gilroy (0-8 in T-CAL, 1-12-1 overall) did not slow down, pushing the ball in the attack zone to try and build a comeback. But nobody was home on several scoring opportunities.
“We played real good. We had this one. We were real close. We know what this feels like,” Hernandez said. “We came out and our ball control was a lot faster. Their movement. Definitely, more of a sense offensively. Just a few shots didn’t go in. We didn’t take enough shots.”
Freshman Nubia Diaz de Leon generated a number of chances, using her speed to break down the sideline and to the corner.
The Lady Mustangs had two serious threats. On the first, Bruce’s free kick from about 30 yards out sailed wide of the post. On the latter, Davis came close to scoring, but her one good look curled just wide of the far post.
“We totally improved from the beginning of the season,” said Davis as she exited Mustang Stadium.
Wins have been hard to come by this season for Gilroy, which includes a roster of four freshmen, two sophomores, six juniors, and four seniors.
“Nubia was playing great today. She’s a freshman. Erin (Sterner) has been solid. She’s a freshman. Margaret was doing well up to the broken foot. She’s a freshman, too,” Hernandez said. “Jenny (Loi) is starting to pull things together. She’s a sophomore. We’re young.”
The Lady Mustangs have two more league games remaining both against neighboring rival Live Oak, beginning on Wednesday in Morgan Hill at 3:30 p.m.
