FIELD HOCKEY: Christopher knocks off North Salinas

In its previous two years of varsity (plus the one at junior varsity in 2009), a short list of things that have eluded the Christopher High field hockey team has formed. On it, is a victory over defending champion North Salinas. The Cougars can cross that off their list.
In an early season showdown between two of the Mission Trail Athletic League’s undefeated teams, CHS, now a third-year varsity program, knocked off North Salinas 3-2 on Wednesday in Gilroy.
Assisted by Maddie Peterson, Melanie Tanaka scored the game winner with three minutes to play in the second half, lifting the Cougars (4-0-2 overall, 3-0 MTAL) to their first win against the Vikings in program history.
Each team held the lead at different points during the game. The Cougars had the first crack at jumping ahead, but a penalty stroke was missed.
North Salinas (4-1 league) eventually went up 1-0 before Kristen Flores evened matters 1-1, which stood as the score into halftime.
Sherelle Butler scored her third goal in two games to give CHS a brief 2-1 lead. North Salinas later knotted the contest at 2-2 where the score remained until Tanaka’s final tally.
The triumph opens a door to a potential league title and first postseason berth – two other things on the list. Though head coach Lia Peterson knows that all of that is a long way off. Plus, the two teams must play one another once more.
“We only hope to stay healthy and continue to get better without becoming overconfident,” she said. “The last three years, CHS has built up to full strength over the season. This year, (the players have) decided not to wait until the end to get it all together, but to start working on it early. And it is paying off.”
Christopher is off until Tuesday when it hosts Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m.