FIELD HOCKEY: Mustangs advance to semifinals with 3-1 win

Seeded No. 2 in the the Central Coast Section playoffs,  the Gilroy High field hockey team, moved past No. 10 Live Oak 3-1 in the quarterfinals on Saturday at Del Mar High School in San Jose.

“We had our work cut out for us. Kudos to Live Oak, they came out and brought it,” said GHS head coach Adam Gemar, whose Mustangs found themselves knotted 0-0 with the Acorns at the break. “They were a little faster and more aggressive than us at the start. (They) definitely had a lot more opportunities than we did, especially in the first half.”

Gemar said the Mustangs used the intermission to regroup, and in the second half, the Mustangs retraced back to their original game plan.

“Once we settled down and figured it out, we stopped forcing it,” Gemar said. “Our passes came back and we set up a lot of our chances through the midfield.”

Monica Marrazzo scored twice and Katrina Carter once in the second half.

“When we had the scoring chance, we tallied,” Gemar said. “My hat goes off to Gina Sanders and the Live Oak girls. They put up a fight.”

Marisa Faust scored Live Oak’s goal in the final minute.

The victory sets up a semifinals showdown with No. 3 Los Gatos tonight, which toppled No. 6 Leland 2-0 also on Saturday. 

Tonight’s contest marks the fourth straight trip the Mustangs, who finished runner-up in 2010, have made into the semifinals. 

The Wildcats and Mustangs have faced each other in the last three playoffs, with Los Gatos earning victories in each, including a 3-1 win in last year’s finals. Gilroy last defeated Los Gatos in the 2005 quarterfinals. 

This year, the Mustangs were on the winning end against Los Gatos in the teams’ regular season meetings.

“All I know is that Los Gatos brings a different level to the playoffs and all that other stuff goes out the window,” Gemar said. “Henry (Reyes) is a great coach. The game should be awesome.”

Top-ranked Archbishop Mitty and No. 4 St. Francis will square off in the other semifinal. Gilroy and Los Gatos are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. back at Del Mar. 

The Monarchs and Lancers will play after.