After being down 2-0, Mustangs score tying goal in final
minutes
Hollister – A game’s worth of frustration finally came to an end in the 77th minute of Gilroy’s Tri-County Athletic League girls soccer showdown Thursday at San Benito.
After finding themselves facing a quick two-goal deficit, the Mustangs rebounded and senior Amanda Bruce knocked home the game-tying goal with three minutes left to salvage a 2-2 tie.
“I knew that as long as we stayed calm, we were going to get one in,” Bruce said. “It always seems hard scoring against (San Benito). It’s a rivalry, so it’s always high tensions.”
The intensity was felt early on. In the 10th minute, with the Haybalers already on top 1-0 on a goal by freshman Sophie Coelho, both teams received a warning after a brief on-field altercation.
Five minutes later, San Benito’s Rachael Jett sent a pass to JC Clayton. She passed along to Coelho, whose shot was deflected by Gilroy goalkeeper Bianca Catanzaro, but the shot still rolled into the net for a 2-0 lead.
The Mustangs made sure the game didn’t get out of hand when they scored four minutes later. Bruce fired a corner kick that senior Stephanie Glenn got a head on and directed into the net to make it 2-1 midway through the half.
In the second half, Gilroy had a myriad of opportunities, with its best coming three minutes in.
Sophomore Ariane Vera fired a shot that went off the crossbar and came straight down. ‘Balers goalkeeper Emily Key batted the ball away as Glenn came streaking in and attempted a shot that was blocked by Key.
That rebound came back to junior Kristi Figueroa, but her shot went just to the right of the post.
“They went everywhere but in,” Mustangs coach Jose Hernandez said.
Several other close calls also came up short for Gilroy. Despite the fact that the Mustangs were controlling the ball, Hernandez was having flashbacks to the team’s matchup in Hollister two years ago.
“Two years ago, we had a similar game,” he recalled. “We controlled all the shots but we lost 1-0 in the last three minutes.”
Gilroy caught a break with nine minutes left in the game when San Benito senior midfielder and captain Brittany Huth picked up her second yellow card of the game and was ejected.
Six minutes later, Bruce found the back of the net with a strong kick from 20 yards out that went off the hands of Key to earn the tie for Gilroy.
“They were able to take some momentum when Huth got kicked out,” ‘Balers coach Mike Schurig said. “She’s a force out there.”
Junior Varsity
Gilroy and San Benito also hooked up in junior varsity action and the Mustangs earned a 2-0 victory on the road.
