Gilroy High field hockey needed overtime to decide a second straight game Thursday night, this time, the Mustangs struck for the golden goal.
Katrina Carter put a stamp on her three-goal night, scoring the game winner three minutes into the 7-versus-7, seven-minute overtime to lift the Mustangs over visiting St. Francis 3-2 in a key Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton Division contest.
The Lancers, who upended the Mustangs in last year’s Central Coast Section final, also defeated GHS 5-2 in the teams’ first meeting earlier this season. But since that loss, the Mustangs are 4-0-2.
Thursday’s game was played with that familiar playoff atmosphere, GHS head coach Adam Gemar said. Two days after a 2-2 tie with Mitty, which also went to overtime, GHS locked into another tight contest.
It was 1-1 at halftime and 2-2 at the end of regulation.
“Though (Carter) earned the hat trick, it was the team’s effort that enabled her to be successful,” Gemar said. “We’ve been talking and working on team-play and on-field chemistry. Those aspects are paying off as the playoffs are nearing close.”
With two games left, Gilroy (7-3-2 division) assumes third place in the division after its extra-time victory, two points ahead of the Lancers (7-4-0) and Saratoga (7-5-0) and five behind second-place Mitty (9-1-1). Los Gatos (10-1-1) is alone in first. Mitty, St. Francis and Leland, Gilroy’s next opponent, have three games remaining.
TENNIS
Six Christopher High tennis players will challenge the Monterey Bay League’s best at the MBL Tournament, which begins Monday at Salinas High.
Emily Barham (No. 1-singles), Shelby O’Hara (No. 2-singles), Nubia Juarez and Adena Chen (No. 1-doubes) and Yvonne AuYeung and Tiffany Roberts (No. 2-doubles) will be the Cougars’ contingent in Monday’s opening round.
The semifinals and finals are slated for Tuesday. Winners move onto the Central Coast Section championships.
VOLLEYBALL
Gilroy High was stopped by Pajaro Valley in three sets (25-22, 25-21, 25-17) on Thursday night.
Six Mustangs recorded at least two kills on the night. Meghan Adams led that category with six kills. Leilani Mah chipped in five kills and Samantha Una’Dia produce three kills. Demi Snapp, Nicole Green and Ballie Carpenter had two.
