Given the chance, Gilroy’s varsity field hockey team can beat
teams outside the Tri-County Athletic League.
Given the chance, Gilroy’s varsity field hockey team can beat teams outside the Tri-County Athletic League.
Thursday’s first-round Central Coast Section game against Del Mar at Garcia Elder Sports Complex proved as much, as the Mustangs came away with a 2-1 victory to extend the season.
Senior Jenna Vivian scored a first-half goal on a short corner after the ball was touched-on by Elise Ogle and Amanda Spellman. Freshman Dani Hemeon beat the keeper for the Mustangs’ second goal after Vivian tracked down a ball heading out of bounds. Vivian quickly passed to Spellman who in turn dished off to Hemeon for a sweeping strike.
The lead was cut in half with 18:08 remaining when Del Mar’s Christina Vermy knocked in a close-range shot.
The remainder of the game showcased a fast and furious effort by both squads to keep the ball on the opposing team’s end. Luckily for the Mustangs, goalkeeper Caitlyn Pierotti came up with several clutch saves.
“It was a tough game, my stomach was in knots,” GHS Coach Erin Gemar said. “The goalie was on her game. Caitlyn played really well.”
For Vivian, who was called up to the varsity team midway through the season, it was one of the better games of her career.
“It was really exciting because I’ve never played in CCS,” said Vivian, who was awarded the ceremonial “Stick of the Game” by her teammates.
The Mustangs must now prepare for field hockey juggernaut Archbishop Mitty. Entering the year, Mitty had not lost a game in years but Gilroy was able to find a weakness by beating the team in a tournament at Willow Glen earlier in the season. Gilroy also lost a game to Mitty on Sept. 9.
The two teams will meet on familiar grounds Saturday at 11:45 a.m. at Willow Glen High School.
“We’re going to work our hardest,” Vivian said. “They’ve beaten us and we’ve beaten them so we’re pretty even. Hopefully we can pull ahead.”
Regarding Thursday’s contest, Gemar said she was pleased that the team was able to pull out a victory while getting everyone in the game.
“Once we had a 2-0 lead, I wanted all the girls to have a CCS experience,” she said.
Going up against a team like Mitty in the next round, however, means the Mustangs will have to be on their “A” game.
“In CCS, any lapses get taken advantage of very fast,” Gemar said. “We have a lot to work on in a short amount of time.”
