Gilroy’s varsity girls soccer team started out as cold as the
weather Friday night, but a late first-half goal by Alex Maldonado
led to scintillating second half in which the Mustangs scored three
goals, resulting in a 4-0 victory over the visiting Salinas
Cowboys.
Gilroy’s varsity girls soccer team started out as cold as the weather Friday night, but a late first-half goal by Alex Maldonado led to scintillating second half in which the Mustangs scored three goals, resulting in a 4-0 victory over the visiting Salinas Cowboys.
Maldonado scored two goals in the game, the first coming on a a rebound just two minutes before intermission. Sara Hugo sent a great perfect through ball to freshman Erin Slattery, who collided with the Cowboys’ keeper as she tried to shoot. As the ball popped out, Maldonado pounced on it with no defender in her vicinity, placing it easily into the back of the net.
Maldonado’s second goal came just eight minutes into the second period. The Mustangs’ Maritza Gonzalez sent a through ball to Ariana Vera, who toe-poked the ball in front of the net to evade a charging keeper. Maldonado again had a clear path, tapping the shot in to give her team a two-goal lead.
Eight minutes later Vera got a goal of her own, taking a through ball past a charging keeper to score as she was being taken down for a 3-0 advantage.
Gilroy’s final point came with four minutes remaining, when midfielder Kristi Figueroa sidestepped a defender on the left sideline before blasting a shot from the top left corner of the box. Salinas’ keeper got fingertips to the ball but the deflection’s course stayed true, slipping inside the far post.
With the victory, Gilroy stayed flawless in Tri-County Athletic League play by moving to 5-0 and not allowing a goal in as many games. The Mustangs are 6-4-2 overall. Salinas is now 6-2-4 (1-1-3 TCAL).
Gilroy’s next match will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Alisal.
