Using every player on the roster, including a couple girls
pulled up from the junior varsity squad, Gilroy’s varsity girls
water polo team survived to swim another day by defeating Robert
Louis Stevenson 16-12 Tuesday at San Benito High School.
HOLLISTER
Using every player on the roster, including a couple girls pulled up from the junior varsity squad, Gilroy’s varsity girls water polo team survived to swim another day by defeating Robert Louis Stevenson 16-12 Tuesday at San Benito High School.
Coach Andy Been said he made sure all of his Mustangs received playing time, making the score a little closer than the game actually was.
“All the girls showed up so I played them all,” he said.
Meghan Collett and Jenny Ailes tied for the team’s game-high in goals with five each. Sophomore Alana Osaki pitched in four goals while Megan Leech and Chelsea Hill (a freshman pulled up from JV) both scored once.
“We were really tenacious with our driving,” Been said. “We tried some new plays that opened up the pool, allowing girls to drive.”
The coach said the new tactic “worked like a charm.”
On defense, Kelly Been captured three steals and Lauren Van Herk shut down the opposing hole position, allowing only one goal from that spot. RLS was hampered by a lack of production inside, forcing the squad to shoot primarily from the wings.
The win keeps GHS in contention in the Tri-County Athletic League Championships, which will pit the Mustangs against the winner of a matchup between Notre Dame and Monterey. Gilroy will play that game on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Santa Catalina High School. It’s possible the Mustangs will have to play a double-header if they win on Thursday, Been said. That contest would most likely be against Santa Catalina, which took first in the TCAL regular season by going 8-0.
For now, however, the focus remains on the all-important first match.
“If we can win that game, we’re still in the hunt to get into CCS,” Been said.
