Part of junior defender Michelle Pirozzoli’s responsibilities
are to watch junior goalie Sam Sicard’s back.
GILROY – Part of junior defender Michelle Pirozzoli’s responsibilities are to watch junior goalie Sam Sicard’s back. If Sicard comes out of net and anything gets by her, Pirozzoli is the last line of defense.
In Tuesday’s crucial Tri-County Athletic League game, Pirozzoli did her job and saved the day for the Lady Mustang field hockey team – which held off a big-and-bruising York squad long enough for a 1-0 shutout win.
“When the goalie comes out, I go behind her for support. I’m just there to help her out,” said Pirozzoli, who chased down a York would-be goalscorer and knocked the ball away from her. “I just kind of hit it.”
Sicard charged out to stuff the attacker – but the powerful York forward went right through her and had a wide-open net. Pirozzoli swooped in and pushed the ball aside. The game-saving play earned Pirozzoli player of the game honors and lifted the Lady Mustangs’ record to 3-1-3 in TCAL.
“(Pirozzoli moves back) just in case something squeaks by,” co-head coach Adam Gemar said. “That game was a heartstopper.”
It was also a belated birthday gift for co-head coach Erin Gemar – who celebrated her special day on Saturday.
“This was a big gift,” Coach Erin Gemar said.
The lone goal in the game came off the stick off junior forward Maday Garcia – who poked in a crossing shot from junior teammate Amanda Cooper just three minutes in.
“That was a picture perfect short corner,” Coach Adam Gemar said. “They took us out of our game because they were so aggressive. They took away our passing. If it wasn’t for a short corner, it’s a 0-0 game.”
On the short corner goal, Garcia first kicked it out to senior captain Sandra Aguayo – who stopped it for senior striker Michelle Morejon. Then, Morejon slapped one on net. The ball eventually bounced out to Cooper – who sent it towards the far post where Garcia touched it in.
“They were playing very physical,”said Pirozzoli of the York players. “They were playing hard, but we played better.”
Gilroy – which has little time to savor the victory with Wednesday’s home game against Carmel at 3:30 p.m. – avenged an earlier 3-3 tie against York. The Lady Mustangs held a 3-1 advantage until the last five minutes when they allowed York to score two late goals.
The same goes for Carmel – which scored a last-minute goal to tie Gilroy 1-1 in the teams’ first encounter.
“That should be a good game,” said Coach Adam Gemar, looking ahead to Carmel. “We’re out to get that game back just like this one.”
Sicard finished with eight saves, while the entire Gilroy defense put forth a huge effort against a much taller, aggressive bunch of York players.
