Morejon nets hat trick in record-setting 7-0 victory
GILROY – With five different goalscorers accounting for a school-record seven goals, the Gilroy High field hockey team enjoyed every last minute of its 7-0 home thrashing of Santa Catalina to close out the season.
“It was our last game. The last time we all were playing with each other,” said senior tri-captain Michelle Morejon, who netted a team-high three goals and added an assist in her final varsity hockey game. “It was fun.”
Morejon opened the scoring for Gilroy early in the first half off a feed from teammate Amanda Cooper via sophomore Chante Mancera. The senior leader then struck for both of Gilroy’s goals in the second half. The first came from the Sandoval sisters, Karlie and Jessica, and the second was a bullet shot from the outside.
“I’d love to play at Berkeley,” said the three-year player, who molded herself after former GHS stand-out Kailynn Kitaji, now a sophomore at Earlham College. “I looked up to her. I wanted to have a season like her.”
The Lady Mustangs (5-4-3 in TCAL) ended a three-game slide with a unprecedented offensive onslaught, including five goals in the opening 30 minutes. Along with Morejon’s score, senior forward Marika Knapp scored in her final game. In addition, Cooper found the back of the net with Selida Banuelos picking up the assist, and then set up junior Crystal Quintanar for the fourth Gilroy goal. Before the half, Banuelas whacked in a goal with teammates Meg Perkins and J. Sandoval registering assists.
“It was a fun game. It’s a good way to end the season,” said co-head coach Adam Gemar, who bid farewell to five Lady Mustang seniors. “The five seniors are serious about hockey. Hopefully, they’ll be able to play in college.”
Senior tri-captain Sandra Aguayo played out her final hockey game at Gilroy High as well. “It’s sad. It hasn’t hit me, though,” said Aguayo, happy to leave with a ‘W’. “We went all out. We had nothing to lose. We pushed it.”
Gilroy pushed all the right buttons against Santa Catalina – which had a hard time even crossing midfield for most of the game.
“Everyone was pumped up and everything,” junior wing Maday Garcia said. “I’m going to miss (the seniors) a lot. They’re great players.”
With the Lady Mustangs in full command, junior tri-captain Sam Sicard – who posed four shutouts this year – got a chance to step out of net and play in the field. Sicard even sent a shot trickling just wide in her first ever game on Gilroy’s front-line.
“It was crazy. I wish I could of scored,” Sicard said. “It was a lot of fun. It’s an adrenaline rush. I give it up to every forward and midfield player… It’s a great way to end the season.”
Sicard’s replacement in net was Cooper – who volunteered for the job and pitted a shutout of her own with no shots on net.
“It was fun. I can’t run with these things on,” said Cooper, pointing out the bulky goalie pads. “It was a really fun team. I’m sad it’s over. It was a fun way to end the season.”
Morejon ended the season with 18 assists, while Aguayo tallied 16 feeds. The Lady Mustangs recorded 35 goals to opponents’ 18.
“It’s going to be tough to lose all the seniors, especially Mich (Morejon) and Sandra (Aguayo),” Coach Adam Gemar said. “In all of our scoring opportunities and scoring, it always starts with Morejon and Aguayo. Sandra will give it to Mich and then Mich will give it to somebody else.”
“Every senior group is special,” Coach Erin Gemar added. “Sandra and Mich are definitely our leaders.”
FIELD HOCKEY FUNDRAISERS: On November 14, anyone who eats out at Fresh Choice after 5 p.m. and says they are their for the Gilroy High field hockey team will have part of their bill donated to the Lady Mustangs… . On November 16, there wil be a CPR Clinic in the Gilroy High choir room. All of the $25 charge will go to the field hockey team. Afterward, there will be an alumni game at 6 p.m.
