Taylor Slattery netted a pair of goals and three other Mustangs register one in a Gilroy High girls soccer team triumph over visiting Alisal in Tri-County Athletic League action on the pitch Wednesday night.
Gilroy posted four first half goals and played keep away in the second half, using the one goal to further separate themselves. Connie Contreras, Morgan Rogers and Cynthia Sanchez had the other three GHS goals. Sanchez increased her season total to 13.
The win pushes the Mustangs to 6-0-1 in the TCAL, though they are locked in a virtual tie with Salinas, which is 5-0-3 at the top of the standings. The Cowboys and Mustangs tied 0-0 in their first matchup of the season and will not meet again until the regular-season finale Feb. 17.
“It’s always been about us worrying about and focusing on the little goals that we have set,” GHS head coach Jose Hernandez said.
Wednesday’s victory marked the fourth time in seven league tilts the Mustangs have recorded at least five goals. The offensive production is coming from all areas of the field, including a savvy freshman class on Alexi Slattery, Tayler Silacci, Katrina Carter and Rogers.
“I’m really pleased with the progress the freshmen have made,” Hernandez said. “We kind of threw them in the fire in December. They got a little burned but they are doing a great job of working to improve.”
The Mustangs second-leading goal producer is sophomore Jahkya Tuerillo (7) and three others have at least five for a team that has posted 32 goals in league. But Hernandez said the girls aren’t paying attention to the stats.
“They are looking beyond those things,” he said. “That’s the nice part. They are setting up their teammates with hustle plays and create runs for us, which we weren’t doing much at the beginning of the season.”
GHS plays its third game of the week Friday at 5:15 p.m. at home against Notre Dame.
