Continuing the sometimes grueling non-league portion of their
schedule, the Mustangs added to their win total on Tuesday night,
overcoming rainy conditions for a 5-1 victory against Watsonville
in Gilroy.
Even with a few players dealing with some nagging bumps, bruises and strains, so far, the Gilroy High girls soccer team has navigated through an A-league-heavy preseason schedule no worse for the wear.
The Mustangs played to draws against a pair of physical opponents with lengthy rap sheets of success last week, tying Monta Vista 1-1 and Presentation 0-0 – both quality tests that deliver a taste for playoff soccer.
“Last week just left us really, really banged up,” GHS head coach Jose Hernandez said. “When we get into the playoffs we forget about the speed and physicality, two areas of the game where the TCAL isn’t as strong. Right now our learning curve is where it should be.”
Continuing the sometimes grueling non-league portion of their schedule, the Mustangs added to their win total on Tuesday night, overcoming rainy conditions for a 5-1 victory against Watsonville in Gilroy.
“We had a chance to give a few girls a breather and everyone got to play,” Hernandez said.
GHS jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead and 4-0 before the Wildcatz tallied their lone goal.
Five different Mustangs scored in the convincing win, Alex Maldonado, Cynthia Sanchez, Erin Slattery, Taylor Slattery and Katelyn Nebesnick. Indra Garcia had a pair of assists and Taylor Slattery had one.
“I thought we came in with a revived energy level. Even though it was raining, the girls had a higher sense of energy.”
Two tough challenges await the Mustangs to close the week, beginning with Palo Alto at home Thursday and an away tilt against St. Francis on Saturday, which wraps up a busy opening three weeks of the season.
“We have to avoid making the simple mistakes,” Hernandez said. “The main thing that I have been asking them is to improve regardless of what happens. They have to prove it to themselves.
“The other thing we have to work on is a basic understanding that our hard work is in practice and they have to find a way to enjoy the games,” Hernandez added. “I thought last week we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. That doesn’t allow you to enjoy it.”
Game time for Thursday is 4 p.m. and Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
