While it wasn’t exactly a grand exit, the result didn’t seem to
damper the home finale for the plethora of Mustang seniors.
While it wasn’t exactly a grand exit, the result didn’t seem to damper the home finale for the plethora of Mustang seniors. The Gilroy girls’ water polo team lost to powerful Santa Catalina 18-1 Thursday.
Afterward, the group of nine seniors hugged, took pictures and smeared each other’s faces with cake. If they were terribly upset about the outcome, they weren’t letting it show.
“At least it wasn’t a shutout,” senior Cate Pedersen said. “That’s a positive.”
Senior Lauryn Rossi added a late goal to avoid the goose egg.
The Mustangs only trailed 2-0 after the first period, but head coach Andy Been said the goal was to play all the seniors as much as possible. And the Cougars eventually just wore everyone out.
“It didn’t matter,” Been said. “This was Senior Day. I wanted to play them all.”
The Mustangs finished 4-4 in TCAL play and will be the fifth seed heading into next week’s league tournament. They’ll likely face RLS at Santa Catalina High next Thursday.
As far as home games, though, the ‘Stangs are done.
What are the seniors going to miss the most? That depends on who you ask.
Christen Scherck said she’s going to miss coach Been.
Pedersen said she’s going to miss playing in the games … “but not practice.”
And goalie Laura Rink said she’s going to miss the pool that has become “like my home” over the years.
As for Azalia Quesada, she’s simply going to miss the camaraderie. The defender is one of four seniors – along with Rink, Rossi and Kim Spalding – to play all four years at Gilroy.
“It was kind of emotional actually,” Quesada said. “I’m sad … I’m going to miss it.
“I’m going to miss just being around the girls and everything.”
Been will no doubt miss the group, too. Only two varsity players, Simone Reyes and Lauren Baty, are set to return next season.
Been said there is some promise on the current junior varsity squad, but admitted “next year will be a real big rebuilding year for us.”
“Being a new coach, it’s been nice to have so many seniors these last two years,” he said. “It’s been especially nice to have a great goalie, a great shooter and some other great players.
“I’m going to miss them all.”
