One is trying to accomplish something it has never done before,
the other is trying to pull off a repeat of its greatest feat.
One is trying to accomplish something it has never done before, the other is trying to pull off a repeat of its greatest feat.
Gilroy High’s boys and girls soccer teams will both be playing their first-round Central Coast Section playoff games Wednesday, Feb. 13. The girls have never won a playoff game, and will be hosting a first-round contest (also a program first). The boys are trying to repeat as CCS champions after beating Bellarmine 2-0 in the finals last season.
Both will have their work cut out for them.
The boys team (14-4-6) received an 11-seed, and will play at Santa Clara (13-3-5), which received a six-seed, at 2:30 p.m.
The winner will advance to face either Watsonville (18-3-3) or Overfelt (15-3-1).
The time of that game is to be determined.
The girls team (11-5-3) received an eight seed and a home game after winning the Tri-County Athletic League title, and will host No. 9 Carlmont (11-5-3) at 6 p.m.
“Historically, I know [Carlmont] is good,” Gilroy girls coach Jose Hernandez said. “They won the 2005 and 2006 Division I final, and made it to the final four last year.
“They’re a perennial powerhouse”
While Hernandez’ group could be feeling intimidated right now with the big stage, he said his team is doing a good job of focusing on its preparation.
“The only thing we talked about is complete concentration and focus,” Hernandez said. “To really decide what we want individually and if we want to share it with the rest of the team.”
What makes the girls chance to go far so good, and somewhat of a pitfall, is that if they win their first-round contest, they will have a home game against No. 1 seed Leigh, which will face the winner of the Gilroy/Carlmont contest.
Before the postseason, Gilroy applied to host a second-round contest.
“It’s the opportunity we’ve been waiting for,” Hernandez said. “We’ve worked hard to get it and take advantage of it.”
Hernandez said his tam will be facing a talented offensive squad in Carlmont.
“They have long-distance shots,” he said. “Their forwards and [midfielders] are not shy of taking 20-plus yard shots. We have to limit our lax and (increase our) focus.”
Both the boys and girls team for Gilroy enter the playoffs playing relatively well.
The boys suffered their first defeat of 2008
just last week in a 1-0 loss to Alisal, while the girls team has not lost a game since December 2007.
The lady Mustangs went 11-0-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League while the boys finished 7-1-4 in the TCAL.
For a full breakdown of the CCS Division I brackets, go to cifccs.org.
