GHS improves to 3-0 in league, plays Leigh Thursday.
GILROY – Head coach Adam Gemar challenged his Gilroy High field hockey players to put forth a team-oriented performance against Mount Hamilton Division counterpart St. Francis on Tuesday.
It took a grueling practice in extreme heat the day before to deliver the message, but the Mustangs heeded the call, orchestrating their best effort of the season en route to a thrilling, tightly contested 1-0 win over the Lancers in blistering Gilroy.
“He sent the message loud and clear that we needed to pick it up,” senior Katelyn Nebesnick said. “Our team chemistry was lacking a little bit our last game and I think we came out and played really well today.”
GHS defeated Los Altos 2-1 last Thursday but the team’s execution wasn’t as precise, Gemar said, and he was wary about how the Mustangs would respond against St. Francis.
“We came in with a crappy practice yesterday and I just had visions of that Los Altos game,” Gemar said. “If we played against (St. Francis) like we did then, they would have murdered us.
“My huge concern was that we didn’t work as a team. But for the most part, today, they worked as a team.”
GHS is now 8-0 overall and 3-0 in league, picking up its third straight Mount Hamilton win to begin the season. The Lancers drop to 2-1 in league.
“It was really intense the whole game, scary at parts, but it was really fun to play,” Nebesnick said. “That’s the reason why we moved up, to play more intense games. And hey, so far, so good.”
The Mustangs’ lone goal personified the squad’s war cry of the afternoon – team chemistry.
A steal in the defensive zone by Steph Gomez, which ended a Lancers’ counter attack, started a nearly 65-yard offensive rush up the right boundary line.
Gomez laid a pretty pass onto Alyssa Kroeger’s stick, who beat one defender inside as she stick-handled the ball into the circle, and found a wide open Dani Hemeon. Hemeon took a rip and buried the shot for the Mustangs’ 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the first half.
“It was like the perfect play; from the defense, to transition, to transition and a goal,” Nebesnick said.
Another solid game from Mustangs midfielders and defenders thwarted a number of Lancers’ attacks, which increased at an alarming rate as time wore thin in the second half.
Goalie Jessica Gonzalez, who didn’t see much action in the first half, stayed stout in cage down to the wire in the second 30 minutes. Gonzalez made two key kick-saves to stave off the Lancers’ last-ditch efforts to tie the game.
“I always try to expect the ball at my feet,” Gonzalez said. “When the ball gets right in front of me, it’s just me and the ball.
“Honestly, I was really excited to touch the ball. I jumped at the opportunity and sprinted towards it. I love the adrenaline.”
From the opening whistle, each teams’ defense clogged passing lanes and limited scoring chances as neither side registered an on-target strike through the first 15 minutes.
The Mustangs had a pair of opportunities earlier in the first half as Hemeon found space inside the circle. But a pass to teammate Monica Marrazzo missed its mark and the Lancers cleared out of harms way. Three minutes later (14:25), Hemeon tattooed a shot wide right of the cage.
The Mustangs defense held off a late short-corner play as time expired in the first half to preserve the slim advantage at the break. The defensive duo of Alex Rose and Tayler Schaut teamed up to create a steal and clearance.
The game opened up some in the second half as players began to feel the effects of the less-than-favorable playing conditions.
An insurance goal eluded the Mustangs with seven minutes to play in the second half. Shayna Robledo took a pass from Nebesnick into the circle, left two defenders behind but the third irritated Robledo’s rhythm just enough to disrupt the shot.
The Mustangs return to action in another Mount Hamilton Division contest against Leigh on Thursday in Gilroy. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
