A first-round bye in the Central Coast Section playoffs didn’t
help the Gilroy High girls’ soccer team from avoiding a similar
fate to seasons past, as the Mustangs lost 2-1 to visiting Gunn
Saturday.
The defeat marked the fifth straight season GHS has lost in its
opening contest to start CCS.
GILROY – A first-round bye in the Central Coast Section playoffs didn’t help the Gilroy High girls’ soccer team from avoiding a similar fate to seasons past, as the Mustangs lost 2-1 to visiting Gunn Saturday.
The defeat marked the fifth straight season GHS has lost in its opening contest to start CCS.
“It’s easy to take the loss when I know the girls gave everything they had,” Gilroy coach Jose Hernandez said.
Down 1-0 at halftime, the Mustangs fell behind by another goal halfway through the second half. The deficit was split in half with 14 minutes remaining when freshman Monique Barragan scored on a rebound following a shot by fellow forward Ariana Vera.
An equalizer was not to be had, though, ending the Mustangs’ season with a 13-4-4 record.
Gilroy had opportunities to score in the first half, but the club couldn’t capitalize.
“We did have some good looks, some opportunities, we just didn’t finish on them,” Hernandez said.
“Crowd-wise, we had good support. Player-wise, everyone gave everything.”
The game marked the final contest in the careers of three GHS seniors: Irene Figueroa, Samantha Saenz and Vera. All three were members of Mustangs squads that won three straight Tri-County Athletic League championships, the most recent coming this season.
