If you’re wondering how Gilroy’s varsity girls soccer team is
going to replace Amanda Bruce, last season’s Tri-County Athletic
League MVP who graduated in June, Coach Jose Hernandez says don’t
bother.
If you’re wondering how Gilroy’s varsity girls soccer team is going to replace Amanda Bruce, last season’s Tri-County Athletic League MVP who graduated in June, Coach Jose Hernandez says don’t bother.
“We don’t ever replace, we just build around the talent we have,” Hernandez said.
Filling the shoes of Bruce, who had 12 goals and 14 assists last season and now attends San Francisco State, is something the GHS coach thinks is impossible.
“It’s a matter of people stepping up and finding their own shoes,” he said.
Returning seven seniors will help the Mustangs in their quest to retain a TCAL title from a season ago, the first girls soccer league title in school history.
That experience, however, is countered by an infusion of youth. The squad has seven freshman as well.
“My expectations are obviously to repeat, to match everything we did last year,” Hernandez said. “We’ve focused a lot on the system and the program we’ve built. We have a strong core group of leaders. The core group of players is coming back. And we’ve got a nice mix of quick and fast pressure (players).
“The problem is were a young team,” the coach added. “So, maturity is a big issue.”
Having individuals accept their roles and work within the team concept is a challenge for any coach. Hernandez thinks there are four items in particular that will be requiring his attention the majority of the time.
“Chemistry within the team, conditioning for each individual, ball control and first touch,” he said. “We’re still trying to develop. Right now, (our style is) based on ball control and quick movement off the ball, a lot of passing.”
Two players that will have a pivotal role in controlling the pace of games will be central midfielders Jeannette Figueroa and Sara Hugo. Both are seniors and will have the responsibility to help wingers Indra Garcia and Erin Slattery, who are both freshman.
“Jeannette (Figueroa) has the skill and the ability to have the same impact Amanda (Bruce) did,” Hernandez said. “It’s just finding and trusting herself, finding out how she wants to lead.”
Figueroa was second on the team in scoring last season with 10 goals and 6 assists.
“[Slattery and Garcia] will interchange (positions), but we will start out (games) with Erin on the left and Indra on the right,” Hernandez said.
The back line returns a talented group with varying experience. Irene Figueroa (junior) will roam the field as a sweeper, Cheyenne Strametz (junior) will often mark an opponent’s best forward, and Maritza Gonzalez (senior) and Rahni Giardina (sophomore) will be responsible for keeping balls clear while also marking other threats.
The Mustangs’ main scoring punch will very likely come from someone named Ariana.
Ariana Vera (junior) and Ariana Carillo (sophomore) will be occupying the forward positions in Hernandez’ 4-4-2 alignment. Last year Vera tied for the team lead with 12 goals.
Key reserves who will see plenty of time on the field this season are senior forward Jenessa Barnes, junior defender Samantha Saenz and freshman midfielder Katelyn Nebesnick.
Note: Gilroy fell short at Santa Teresa Tuesday, losing 4-1 to even its season record to 1-1.
Sarah Hugo provided the Mustangs lone goal in the match on a penalty shot after Ariana Carrillo drew a foul in the box in the 65th minute.
Trailing by just a goal at halftime, GHS Coach Jose Hernandez said several defensive breakdowns early in the second half allowed the game to get away.
“I’m actually not disappointed because [our defense] did a good job marking, but they had four mistakes,” he said. “We didn’t clear or we sent the ball back in the middle (of the field).”
The team will look to regain a winning record when it plays Presentation in the home opener Friday at 3:30 p.m.
