Gilroy’s varsity girls water polo team can clinch the first
Central Coast Section playoff appearance in program history with
one more victory.
Beating visiting Monterey 12-6 in the first round of the
Tri-County Athletic League Championships Tuesday, the Mustangs
(10-4) took a big step toward locking up a third-place finish in
league, which is required to qualify for CCS.
GILROY – Gilroy’s varsity girls water polo team can clinch the first Central Coast Section playoff appearance in program history with one more victory.
Beating visiting Monterey 12-6 in the first round of the Tri-County Athletic League Championships Tuesday, the Mustangs (10-4) took a big step toward locking up a third-place finish in league, which is required to qualify for CCS.
Nicole Nelsen led the Mustangs with three goals, Alana Osaki, Bianca Catanzaro and Meagen Collett scored two, and Chelsea Hill, Alex Marshall and Michelle Shields each netted one.
Monterey, which trailed 11-3 at halftime, received three goals from Carie Albers.
Gilroy coach Sean La Guardia was happy with the win, but thought his squad would need to play much better on Thursday.
“We still got some things that we need to work one,” he said.
The Mustangs will likely face the Robert Louis Stevenson Pirates (12-7) Thursday at 6 p.m. at Carmel High School. The Pirates played Watsonville (1-8) Tuesday afternoon, but scores have yet to be reported.
In a Sept. 17 meeting, RLS edged Gilroy 11-9. La Guardia thought both teams have improved since that time, but one isn’t head and shoulders above the other.
“I really think were pretty evenly matched in terms of speed, conditioning and talent,” he said.
The team with more intensity, he added, will have the upper hand.
“I don’t think we were ready from the first second today,” La Guardia said. “But mark my words, we’ll be ready Thursday.”
