GILROY – The first five games of the season for the Gilroy High
girls soccer team have all followed a similar script. Ball control,
possession dominance but no goals to show for it.
GILROY – The first five games of the season for the Gilroy High girls soccer team have all followed a similar script. Ball control, possession dominance but no goals to show for it.
If a soccer game could be won with just the volume of scoring chances counting as goals, the Mustangs would have defeated Scotts Valley 10-2 on Wednesday night.
But once again the first goal of the season eluded the Mustangs in a 1-0 decision, further frustrating a young team that starts five freshmen.
“All five freshmen were having an off day,” head coach Jose Hernandez said.” It’s frustration. We are all dealing with it. It is hard understand the process when the results don’t always come. You have to be patient.”
Seven minutes into the game after what at first appeared to be a harmless turnover at midfield by the Mustangs quickly evolved into a counter attack by the Falcons.
One pass to a streaking Emily Payne resulted in her beating goalie Lauren Bertero, who rushed out of the net to challenge at the top of the box.
The goal proved to be the difference in the game.
“It’s going to take more communication and just finishing,” said junior forward Alexandria Maldonado, who nearly put the Mustangs up 1-0 in the opening minutes.
On the attack, Moldonado tried to track down a ball that rolled just enough ahead of her for the Falcons’ goalie to outrace her to it.
“Once we score everyone is going to be like, ‘oh we scored,'” she added.
Moments after Maldonado’s near goal, midfielder Katelyn Nebesnick sent a spot-on through ball to sophomore Savannah Silacci running free down the left sideline. Her left-footed shot to the far post was corralled by the keeper.
Silacci had another crack at the net after the Falcons took the lead, but that shot too was scooped up and played harmlessly out of danger.
Gilroy spent much of the second half coming close to getting that much anticipated first goal. The Mustangs let loose on four shots on goal during the second half and also had two attempts from Nebesnick sail over the crossbar.
“I wanted to see how we ended the game,” Hernandez said. “In the second half we did a good job of adjusting. This is the preseason so we got to see three girls play different positions.”
The Mustangs’ 0-3-2 record doesn’t justifiably reflect how they have played during the early portion of the season.
They have surrendered just five goals on the year, three of which came in their opening game against reigning CCS Division I champion Monta Vista. The Mustangs have also played to two 0-0 draws.
The opportunities are there each game as well, as they have ripped more than 30 shots on goal during the scoreless streak.
The Mustangs get another shot at goal No. 1 on Saturday against Terra Nova in Pacifica.
