Sean La Guardia sounds like a coach that is trying not to jinx
himself.
In his first year as coach of the Gilroy High varsity girls
water polo team, La Guardia is attempting to do something no other
coach has ever done at the school
– get his team into the Central Coast Section playoffs.
GILROY – Sean La Guardia sounds like a coach that is trying not to jinx himself.
In his first year as coach of the Gilroy High varsity girls water polo team, La Guardia is attempting to do something no other coach has ever done at the school – get his team into the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Currently in third place in the Tri-County Athletic League at 4-1, the Mustangs would need to place as well or higher in the league championships beginning November 3.
“I don’t want to say we’re confident (in making the playoffs), but that’s always been the goal,” La Guardia said. “Right now, looking ahead, there are a lot of good teams who are crowding for the top three positions in our league and it really just depends which of those four teams shows up at the tournament.
“I like to think those three spots are anybody’s.”
Those spots are likely to be split up amongst the Mustangs, Robert Louis Stevenson (6-1 TCAL), Salinas (5-1) and San Benito (3-2),
Most recently, the Mustangs topped Santa Catalina 8-5 to improve their record to the same ratio.
The margin of victory was smaller than expected — the Cougars have only one win in the TCAL – which La Guardia attributed to unusual amount of sloppy plays and fouls.
Gilroy’s Bianca Catanzaro was ejected twice and Michelle Shields sat out the final eight minutes after receiving her third ejection.
“That’s why the score was close, but you gotta give Santa Catalina credit,” La Guardia said. “They were ready to play from the beginning.”
The Mustangs’ leading scorer was sophomore Chelsea Hill with four goals. Nicole Nelsen led the way defensively, helping the Mustangs pick up the tempo and go on counter attacks by tallying four steals. La Guardia called the thefts “key to pulling out that game.”
Gilroy has three more regular season games remaining – a 3:30 p.m. contest today at Carmel, Watsonville on Monday and a rescheduled game Wednesday against Salinas at Hartnell College. This does not include the Hollister H2Oktoberfest tournament taking place at San Benito Saturday.
For a program that has just missed the postseason in recent years, the excitement is palpable.
“The players are really happy,” La Guardia said. “I really didn’t know what to expect coming into the season, but it’s been a really pleasant surprise.”
How the Mustangs fare in the next two weeks will determine if the good times continue.
“We can’t afford to be overconfident, but I like our chances,” La Guardia said. “I like our chances to win the TCAL tournament.”
