San Benito used a 10-goal first period as the impetus for a 22-6
win over Gilroy on Thursday.
Hollister – San Benito used a 10-goal first period as the impetus for a 22-6 win over Gilroy on Thursday.
In a wild first quarter, the ‘Balers (17-3, 7-1 TCAL) and Mustangs unleashed a flurry of shots. Though Gilroy tied the game at 1-1 when junior Jenny Ailes took a rebound from Maegan Collett’s shot off the left post to score at the 6:14 mark, San Benito playmakers Katie Buzzetta and Jayme Telles teamed up to score five unanswered goals in the next two minutes.
Though the Mustangs (7-7-1, 4-4 TCAL) recovered to trade goals with the ‘Balers as the quarter progressed, San Benito’s deep offense kept up its frantic pace with scores by Kirsten Palm and Buzzetta near the period’s end to give the hosts a 10-3 lead.
Five more ‘Baler goals in the second quarter removed any doubt from the outcome. Buzzetta posted seven goals – all before halftime – to lead all scorers. Ailes led Gilroy with three goals, and senior Lauren Baty contributed two.
Mustangs coach Andy Been said the lopsided outcome didn’t mean all the enjoyment was on the ‘Balers’ side. “So much of this sport is a hard contact sport,” he said. “Even though we got beaten badly, we had fun and we didn’t give up.”
The Mustangs are in the mix for the No. 4 seed in the TCAL tournament, fighting with Monterey and Salinas for the spot behind Santa Catalina, San Benito and RLS.
The TCAL playoffs begin Tuesday.
After falling to regular season champion Santa Catalina 14-8 on Oct. 17, the ‘Balers enter next week’s tournament intent on a better showing. “We’re going to be ready for them,” San Benito coach Lacey Sutton said.
“We have to be the most focused for them,” Tanner added. “We’re focused, we’re determined and we want to do very well.”
With Santa Catalina and San Benito set to occupy the top-two seeds, the ‘Balers would need to win the tournament title to forge a shared TCAL Championship.
“We need to believe in ourselves that we can do it,” Sutton said.
The top-three TCAL finishers will earn automatic bids to the Central Coast Section playoffs.
