Mustangs could wrap up TCAL crown with win over Notre Dame
Tuesday
GILROY
The class of the Tri-County Athletic League in girls’ soccer continues to be Gilroy, which is perfect in eight league games after beating the Alvarez Eagles 5-0 Friday afternoon at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
Taking a three-goal lead going into halftime, the Mustangs (11-2-3 overall, 8-0 TCAL) tacked on two more scores in the second half to pull within one more win of sealing up a first-place finish in the TCAL at the very least. Alvarez dropped to 7-9, 2-7.
A victory over Notre Dame Tuesday – kickoff is at 5 p.m. – would give Gilroy, winners of its last seven games, its third straight league title under coach Jose Hernandez, who credited Friday’s win to a steady approach in practice leading up to the game.
“That’s always been our concern, finding ways to push ourselves and not playing (down) to our competition,” Hernandez said.
Gilroy’s Katelyn Nebesnick, Samantha Saenz and Ariana Vera scored goals in the first half, while Rahni Giardina and Irene Figueroa were able to tally goals in the second half. Nebesnick assisted Vera’s goal, while the latter aided Figueroa for the fifth and final goal.
With several players out due to injury or illness, Hernandez made adjustments to his lineup throughout the game, putting players in positions they rarely see during the season.
“Once the game was in hand, three-nothing at half, at that point there was no reason to run up the score,” he said. “The second half, it was like, ‘What do you want to work on?'”
Increasing the lead in the final 40 minutes, through goals by players generally patrolling the backline, was due to no noticeable drop-off once substitutions were made.
“Our bench players came through and played like starters,” Hernandez said.
Maria Velasquez took the place of Mandi Jo Torres in goal for Gilroy, recording her first career varsity shutout.
The Mustangs’ final home game will be Friday at 5 p.m. against Salinas, before finishing the regular season the following week at Alisal on Tuesday and San Benito on Friday, Feb. 13.
A perfect 12-0 league record could put Gilroy in good position to advance deep into the Central Coast Section playoffs, while a loss could result in a far more formidable first-round opponent.
“It honestly depends on how we finish,” Hernandez said. “If we go 12-0, we could be a five or six (seed). If we lose or tie a couple, we could be 7 to 10.”
