GILROY – Kassii Kachakji couldn’t fight back the tears that
welled up in her eyes after the Gilroy High girls field hockey team
played its final home game Wednesday night.
Kachakji, one of five seniors on the team, scored the first goal
for the Mustangs in a 2-0 victory over Santa Catalina, definitely a
fond memory to cherish.
GILROY – Kassii Kachakji couldn’t fight back the tears that welled up in her eyes after the Gilroy High girls field hockey team played its final home game Wednesday night.
Kachakji, one of five seniors on the team, scored the first goal for the Mustangs in a 2-0 victory over Santa Catalina, definitely a fond memory to cherish.
“I’m already getting really emotional about it,” a tearful Kachakji said. “I just love the game and I love all the girls. We support each other and love each other a lot. We always have a strong, strong bond every year between the girls, like a family, and Adam and Erin (Gemar) are our hockey parents.”
Mariah Derry and Geralyn Moon also suited up for their final home game with Moon, the Mustangs every day goalie, getting a chance to run up and down the field, playing the first half at the forward position.
“She was supposed to play until she scored,” Gemar said of the lineup change.
Moon was back in net during the second half.
Two other seniors, captains Elise Ogle and Mandi Jo Torres, sat out their second consecutive games with some nagging injuries but the pair will be ready for the Central Coast Section playoffs, coach Adam Gemar said.
“In practice it sucks not to play,” Ogle said, “but during a game it’s 1,000-times worse.”
Although the Mustangs dictated play in the first half – constantly swarming the Cougars’ net – GHS was held scoreless during the first 30 minutes for the lone time in league play this season.
“We had a bad warm up,” Gemar said. “We should be able to pick up the intensity next week against North Salinas. If not, we’ll lose.”
The Mustangs travel to face the Vikings next Thursday to wrap up the regular season. GHS easily handled the talented North Salinas squad 8-1 in the teams’ first showdown earlier in the year.
After the scoreless first half, the Mustangs earned a short corner eight minutes into the second frame. Following denied shots by juniors Dani Hemeon and Alex Rose, Kachakji cleaned up the loose ball in front of the net to put GHS up 1-0. Kachakji was voted the team’s player of the game.
Ten minutes later Hemeon set up Alyssa Kroeger with a pinpoint pass and Kroeger did the rest with a crafty backhand goal.
“Sometimes we have low games, they are fun but we have to push ourselves more,” Kachakji said.
When it comes to the CCS playoffs, Kachakji sums up the consensus feeling quite simply.
“I want to win,” she said. “I want it all this year.”
CCS playoffs begin Wednesday Nov. 11
