After a red-hot start to the season, the Gilroy High girls’
soccer team got off a not-so-hot start in its home opener
Tuesday.
After a red-hot start to the season, the Gilroy High girls’ soccer team got off a not-so-hot start in its home opener Tuesday.
The Mustangs, fresh off a first-place tournament showing at Silver Creek, simply couldn’t recover from a pair of early Los Gatos goals and succumbed to the speedy Wildcats, 5-1.
“We came out flat and a little unfocused,” GHS head coach Jose Hernandez said. “We’re a young team. That’s going to happen sometimes.”
After falling behind 3-0 at halftime, Gilroy (6-1) cured a few of its defensive breakdowns and showed some fight in the second half.
About 15 minutes in, junior Joann Olivo-Pedroza found fellow midfielder Amanda Bruce, who knocked one in past the goalie to pull the Mustangs to within two.
“The girls did a good job adjusting at the half,” Hernandez said. “The intensity level definitely picked up.”
Gilroy had a few more opportunities, but just missed on both a corner kick and a shot by Olivo-Pedroza. Eventually Los Gatos put the game away with two goals in the last five minutes.
“That was definitely the hardest team we’ve faced this year,” Bruce said. “They stayed in front of the ball a lot and passed really well.
“We’ve got to learn to step in front of the ball like they did. And we also need to talk more as a team.”
In the team’s games against lesser opponents, Bruce said the Mustangs were afforded more time to get to the ball. Not against the faster Wildcats.
“It was basically a fight between our speed and their speed,” Hernandez added. “They were definitely the best conditioned team we’ve faced.”
As for Gilroy, the schedule doesn’t give it any breaks this week. The Mustangs play at undefeated Lincoln High today and then travel to Castroville Friday afternoon to face North Monterey County.
Solid tourney start
The GHS boys’ team used a strong defense and difference-making midfield to post a 1-0 victory at Monta Vista High Tuesday. The match in Cupertino was the first of a series of games this month in the annual Homestead Christmas Cup.
In last season’s tournament, Gilroy finished runner-up behind powerhouse Watsonville and opened with a similar 1-0 win over Monta Vista. This year’s initial victory in the tourney was more impressive, though, co-head coach Brian Hall said.
“This year we really dominated the game,” the Monta Vista grad said. “Our entire midfield really dominated play.”
Senior Joel Vera was particularly effective, scoring on an assist from Ben Alcatar in the 13th minute and creating two other opportunities later in the game.
“He played excellent,” said Hall, also noting the midfield work of Alfonso Montgalvan and Aaron Thomas, who moved over from sweeper.
Gilroy was also aided by the return of three players – Alcatar, Artemio Arteaga and Everardo Diaz de Leon – all making their season debut after the end of club season.
The Mustangs (1-0-1) return to action with Thursday 3:15 home game against St. Francis.
