GILROY – After a busy week packed with three games, including
back-to-back home outings Wednesday and Thursday, the Gilroy High
varsity field hockey team has hit the half way point and beyond of
its Mission Trail Athletic League season – and the wins keep piling
up.
GILROY – After a busy week packed with three games, including back-to-back home outings Wednesday and Thursday, the Gilroy High varsity field hockey team has hit the half way point and beyond of its Mission Trail Athletic League season – and the wins keep piling up.
Bookended by relatively easy victories over Notre Dame 10-0 on Monday, and a 9-0 blanking versus Monterey on Thursday, was a very competitive game – despite its 8-1 score in favor of the Mustangs – against North Salinas.
“We have been talking a lot about intensity,” head coach Adam Gemar said. “We come in soft, because we know we can beat teams.”
The Mustangs, who haven’t lost a league game in more than eight seasons, have been able to sustain an intensity level that has led to a spotless 9-0 record in the MTAL and 14-0 overall, with the goal allowed on Wednesday the first in an official game surrendered by goalie Geralyn Moon and the GHS defense all season.
“I know the playoffs are a long time away, but we kind of always think about it,” Gemar said. “Everyone thought this team wasn’t going to be as good as last year because we lost five quality Division I players. But right now we are just as strong.
“We have such an explosion up front with Dani (Hemeon) and Elise (Ogle),” Gemar added. “We have had a lot of heart-to-hearts lately just talking about being a family and playing as a team.”
Ogle had her best game of the week against Monterey, posting a hat trick.
The Mustangs, who have consistently jumped out to early leads in the first half, scored six times in the opening 30 minutes Thursday and didn’t look back.
“I liked the passing today,” Gemar said. “Everybody is feeling each other’s love, so to speak.”
The Mustangs also received goals from Aubrey Young (2), Mandi Jo Torres, Mariah Derry and Hemeon (2).
GHS faced a physical North Salinas team Wednesday, but after a sluggish start were able to mount a 3-0 halftime lead.
Hemeon put Gilroy on the board 14 minutes into the contest, ripping a shot that found its way through traffic from 10 yards out.
Three minutes later Hemeon redirected an Ogle blast, tipping it past the Vikings goaltender.
“We’ve known for a while that (North Salinas) was going to be ready,” Hemeon said after the game. “A lot of the girls they have are track studs and are really fast. We just try to prepare as much as we can in practice.”
Tiana Huddlestun padded the lead with eight minutes to play before the break, sweeping in a perfect pass from Alyssa Kroeger.
Shayna Robledo completed a crafty one-handed goal early in the second half to put the Mustangs up 4-0.
A few possessions later, Moon looked stunned as a shot by the Vikings’ Alexis Martinez slowly rolled by her left foot and into the net for a goal.
The first goal allowed by the Mustangs this season seemed to spark a whole new level of energy as they poured it on offensively, rattling off four straight scores on goals by Kroeger, Alex Rose, Ogle and Torres.
The Mustangs have a week off before a tournament next Saturday.
“We will be running, which will be good for us,” Gemar said.
