Against a defending Central Coast Section finalist, coach Jose
Hernandez couldn’t have asked for more from his young Gilroy girls
soccer team.
Scott J. Adams – special to the Dispatch
Gilroy
Against a defending Central Coast Section finalist, coach Jose Hernandez couldn’t have asked for more from his young Gilroy girls soccer team.
Still, a goal would have been nice.
The freshman-heavy Warriors came close to netting a couple, but settled for a scoreless draw with Scotts Valley in a non-league game on Thursday.
“We just couldn’t get one in the net,” Hernandez said afterward. “I thought we played pretty hard, though. We’re a young team, and as the game went on, I saw us mature a lot out there.”
On a slippery pitch at rainy Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, Gilroy mustered eight shots to the Falcons’ 12, including three one-timers in the first half.
Janet Gonzalez, Sara Hugo and Kristi Figueroa gave the host Mustangs their best scoring looks after Gilroy’s passing picked up in the 13th minute. Each fired a shot on goal from 30 yards but couldn’t crack goalkeeper Jen Brumbaugh.
“We had our chances,” said Irene Figueroa, who had one shot. “We were moving the ball, but it was hard with the wet field.”
It was the second draw this season for the Mustangs (1-2-2), who also tied San Lorenzo Valley 1-1 Tuesday. Gilroy goalkeepers Lauren Bertero and Samantha Saenz combined for their first shutout this year while working the first and second halves, respectively. Each had three saves.
“They did a great job tonight, I thought,” Hernandez said. “They made some big saves against a good team.”
The Falcons had a golden opportunity to score in the 25th minute after Tylinda Arthur sent in a free kick from inside 40 yards. The ball slipped through two defenders and was online to meet forward Keara McCullough before Bertero batted it away.
“We feel the same as them probably. We just wanted a goal – it was tough,” Scotts Valley coach Art Munoz said. “We created scoring chances, but they have a good defense.”
McCullough had another chance to break up the tie in the 73rd minute but sent a wide-open 12-yard shot directly at Saenz.
Gilroy was held to two shots in the second half while the Falcons tallied five.
“We needed to be more aggressive,” said Gilroy forward Cheyenne Strametz. “That was the difference between a win and a tie.”
Carrillo and Alexandria Maldonado both finished with a team-high two shots for the Mustangs, who host St. Francis C.C. Catholic at 10 a.m. Saturday.
