Despite 3-0 loss to Live Oak, Lady Mustangs make most of losing
season.
GILROY – For four seniors – forward Jackie Arribere, goalie Dallas Hernandez, midfielder Nicole Hee and fullback Diana Hovey – Wednesday’s home game against rival Live Oak was the last time they would play soccer under the lights in Mustang Stadium.
So in a halftime ceremony, the Lady Mustang quartet was presented with flowers and balloons by their teammates.
“I had fun with my teammates and I’ll miss them when I leave,” Hovey said.
At game’s end, the Lady Mustangs had suffered their ninth league loss without a win – finishing the season 0-9-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League. But the final score didn’t matter to most. The Gilroy players still laughed and smiled as they chased one another with shaving cream.
“Our team, we’re really close. We all get along on and off the field. I think we learned a lot this season,” Hee said. “We did a lot of crazy things.”
First-year head coach Adam Gemar and assistant Matt Jacobsen were covered with shaving cream minutes after the team’s regular season finale. They didn’t seem to mind one bit.
“I had fun for the most part. It was tough to go through a losing season,” said Gemar, who also co-head coaches the varsity field hockey squad with his wife, Erin. “I learned a tremendous amount this year. Soccer is a lot different than field hockey. There’s a world of difference.”
With T-CAL powers Live Oak, Notre Dame and Hollister as well as solid units out of Salinas and North Salinas, the inexperienced Lady Mustangs gave it their all even though there was little chance for victory.
Gilroy did make its season with a 3-3 tie on the road last week against North Salinas.
“We were very excited and happy we got the tie,” Hovey said. “It was our first tie so it felt pretty good.”
The Lady Mustangs trailed by two goals at halftime – turned it on in the second half with two strikes. Freshman Jackie Iwanaga finished with two goals, while striker Cydney Fong tallied a goal and an assist.
“That was nice to see us come back and play positive and score three goals,” Gemar said. “Literally, we should have won that game.”
Last night, the Lady Mustangs fell behind 2-0 at the half to Live Oak and then surrendered one second-half goal without any answers. But it was a big improvement from the 8-0 shellacking they suffered in Morgan Hill.
“Fantastic game on their part,” said Gemar, who loses only four seniors to graduation. “Excellent group. I think the seniors were the top of the team as far as attitude and work ethic.”
