Losing five Division I-caliber players would normally set a
program back to square one come next season. But Gilroy High field
hockey has elevated itself above the average program over the
years.
While some clubs rebuild, the Mustangs reload.
GILROY – Losing five Division I-caliber players would normally set a program back to square one come next season. But Gilroy High field hockey has elevated itself above the average program over the years.
While some clubs rebuild, the Mustangs reload.
“Every year you think you can’t get better and somehow we get better,” Gilroy coach Adam Gemar said before practice Thursday.
Gemar lost two seniors from last season’s team to UC Berkeley, two to the University of Pacific and another to UC Davis, yet the core of the Mustangs’ roster remains intact, led by a “super strong” junior class, several stud seniors and a couple of fresh faces who are expected to make an immediate impact.
Gilroy is coming off its eighth straight title in the Mission Trail Athletic League, in which the Mustangs have gone undefeated during that span, yet the main goal this season is to have fun while trying to capture the ever elusive Central Coast Section championship.
Last year the Mustangs finished the season with a 23-2-2 record, falling to Los Gatos in the section semifinals. Getting back to that point and going farther this season won’t be easy, but it isn’t out of the question.
“All of the new players and people from last year have to step up and fill the gaps,” said senior goalkeeper Geralyn Moon.
“I don’t think it’s looking too bad. We are actually looking pretty good to start. We haven’t been too sluggish coming back after the summer.”
Part of that early progress can be credited to many of the Mustangs spending the summer working out and playing strictly hockey. Junior Dani Hemeon played on the U.S. Junior Olympics squad, according to Gemar, while other players took part in a strength and conditioning program put on by the father of senior Elise Ogle, who found out Wednesday she has been accepted to Stanford University. Ogle was the Mustangs most lethal scorer last season and will begin playing for the Cardinal in 2010.
Other players expected to have a huge role in Gilroy earning a ninth MTAL title in a row include senior Mandi Jo Torres, junior Emily Costa and freshman Kaylana Mah, amongst others.
The Mustangs’ success in league does come with a catch, though. Gilroy is rarely tested in league play but often finds itself evenly matched by the time the playoffs roll around. Staying focused during blowout wins and routine practices is what several players say will be key to getting over the hump in the playoffs, when there are no gimmes.
“We have intensity in games, but if we reflect that same intensity in our practices our level of play can that much higher,” Ogle said.
