If Jose Hernandez didn’t need so many freshmen and sophomores on
his team, Gilroy would most likely have the best junior varsity
girls’ soccer squad in the section.
Instead, with a peppering of juniors and seniors, Hernandez’
varsity roster provides him an extremely young but talented team
with all the potential to grant Gilroy its third straight
Tri-County Athletic League title.
GILROY – If Jose Hernandez didn’t need so many freshmen and sophomores on his team, Gilroy would most likely have the best junior varsity girls’ soccer squad in the section.
Instead, with a peppering of juniors and seniors, Hernandez’ varsity roster provides him an extremely young but talented team with all the potential to grant Gilroy its third straight Tri-County Athletic League title.
Youth and inexperience go hand in hand, though, and the need to get his players to adjust to the physicality and pressure of varsity soccer isn’t lost on the Mustangs’ coach.
“Our main issue is going to be how well we control our emotions, how we communicate and how quickly we jell together,” Hernandez said.
In its first four games, Gilroy has faced stiff competition but managed to come out relatively unscathed at 1-1-2.
Two seniors have set the tone to start the season, but they go about their business in two completely different manners.
Central defender Irene Figueroa monitors the backline, while striker Ariana Vera spends the majority of her time dissecting defenses for goals.
“Irene does all the dirty work,” Hernandez said, “She’s the one that sets everything in the back.”
As for Vera, who was named TCAL Co-Offensive MVP last season, Hernandez kept it short and sweet.
“She’s a stellar player,” he said.
A season ago, Vera tied for the team lead in goals with 10 and was second in assists with five. She currently has four goals in as many games this year.
Losing Kristi Figueroa, who shared the TCAL MVP award with Vera, to graduation, the Mustangs no longer have one of their all-league stalwarts in the midfield. They do, however, have two more than capable sophomores in Katelyn Nebesnick and Indra Garcia.
Small in stature, Garcia was an all-league selection as a freshman with four goals and four assists.
Defenders Rahni Giardina and Samantha Saenz return, as does winger Alex Maldonado and forward Arianna Carrillo.
Gilroy has taken a hit to its roster, as it will be without the services of sophomore Erin Slattery, last year’s TCAL Freshman of the Year. Slattery is not expected to play this season due to injury.
Filling the void as this year’s newcomer to watch will be freshman defender Monique Barragan. Even though she doesn’t possess a big frame, there aren’t too many plays Barragan can’t make.
“She’s small but very aggressive,” Vera said.
“She throws her body at the ball,” added Giardina. “She’s got hops for being [5-foot-1].”
Despite carrying seven sophomores and three freshmen, seniors such as Saenz and Vera, two of only four on the team, think the Mustangs should still be considered the league favorite.
“I think this team can do it,” Saenz said. “We have a lot more young players but there’s a lot more team chemistry.”
“We’re already used to it,” Vera said. “Every year we get new freshman.”
Irene Figueroa might have the biggest adjustment to make of all of Gilroy’s players. This is the first season she won’t be playing with her sister Kristi.
“Ever since I was younger she’s been on my team,” Irene Figueroa said. “It kind of allows to be more of an individual.”
Departures also allow returning players to assume bigger roles, as Figueroa did last year, a season after Amanda Bruce (12 goals, 14 assists) led Gilroy to its first TCAL title in 2006-07.
Getting a third will require a renewed commitment.
“It just takes a lot of effort,” Irene Figueroa said. “Last year, everyone was willing to work hard.”
The Mustangs will host Overfelt in their final non-league game Monday at 6 p.m. before starting TCAL play Wednesday at 5 p.m. when North Salinas comes to Gilroy.
NOTE: Gilroy defeated visiting Seaside 7-0 Wednesday night.
Ariana Vera scored the game’s first three goals before Arianna Carrillo added her first of two scores to send the Mustangs into the half ahead 4-0.
Katelyn Nebesnick had a 25-yard blast from the left side of the box to give Gilroy a
6-0 lead and Mayra Almanza scored the game’s final goal.
