Gilroy falls 3-2 to league-champ Viks
GILROY – North Salinas’ post-game celebration was one the Gilroy High field hockey team had hoped for by year’s end. It meant the league championship for the Lady Vikings – who held off a late Gilroy charge for a 3-2 victory.
“Nothing to be ashamed with on that one,” said co-head coach Erin Gemar, whose squad dropped its third straight game by one goal and evened its record at 4-4-3. “It was a nice comeback.”
With four minutes left and North Salinas ahead 3-1, senior captain Michelle Morejon sent a crossing pass in front to junior forward Tracy Link – who stuffed it in to bring the Lady Mustangs to within one. But Gilroy failed to cross midfield again after Link’s strike.
Lady Vikings’ senior forward Nina Burney netted all three of her team’s goals to up her season scoring total to 23.
“She’s one of the fastest in the league,” said Coach Gemar of Burney. “I just didn’t feel like we needed more (defenders) back.”
After Gilroy took a first-half lead on a Amanda Cooper goal with 1:30 left, Burney evened the score before the break with a goal just 53 seconds later.
“All season long, she’s just a go-getter. She’s just that aggressive on her own,” said North Salinas head coach Stan Marple of his leading scorer. “She’s just got a drive to win.”
Burney sent the Lady Vikings on their way with a pair of goals in the opening seven minutes of the second half. Her first came just 36 ticks in as she blasted a shot past Gilroy junior netminder Sam Sicard – who had her hands full all game long with Burney on the prowl.
“We graduated nine seniors so we started from scratch,” said Coach Marple, who installed an aggressive nine-player attack in his first varsity coaching season. “For the team, it’s pretty neat.”
For the Lady Mustangs, it’s back to business today as they play host to Santa Catalina at 3 p.m.
Gilroy’s player of the game was passed along from Morejon to Cooper.
There were no officials for the make-up game, so co-head coach Adam Gemar took on the refereeing duties.
