San Benito upsets Gilroy 1-0; first win over Mustangs since
2005
GILROY
Hannah Cobb’s first-half goal was all the San Benito girls soccer team needed to beat Gilroy 1-0 Friday afternoon, as the Lady ‘Balers snapped an eight-game winless streak against the Mustangs and scored their first win over GHS since Jan. 6, 2005.
The goal – Cobb’s 23rd of the season – means the Lady ‘Balers have a better chance to qualify for an at-large berth in the Central Coast Section playoffs, which will announce its seedings this weekend. That wasn’t what made the shot so sweet for Cobb, though.
“Beating Gilroy is the most satisfying thing,” she said.
Taking a pass from Sophie Coelho, Cobb beat Mustang defender Rhani Giardina and struck a shot just over Gilroy keeper Mandi Jo Torres and just under the crossbar.
“We made one mistake defensively and they capitalized,” Gilroy coach Jose Hernandez said.
The Mustangs had plenty of opportunities to tie the game, none closer than a shot by GHS forward Ariana Vera with nine minutes remaining. With only keeper Emily Key to beat, Vera tried to send the ball into the far corner of the goal but it just missed wide right. Controlling possession for the majority of the contest, partly because San Benito head coach Ben Alvarez kept adjusting his formation to keep the Mustangs off balance, Gilroy just couldn’t finish.
The loss marked the final game of the regular season for both clubs, and the first loss in Tri-County Athletic League play for Gilroy (13-3-4 overall, 10-1-1 TCAL), which secured its third straight league title last week.
San Benito improved to 15-3-4 overall, 7-2-3 in the TCAL. Depending on the result of a match between Notre Dame (9-8-4, 6-1-4) and Alvarez Friday, the Lady ‘Balers will finish in either second or third place. The top two teams from the TCAL receive an automatic playoff berth, with the third-place team looking to qualify on points gained through strength of schedule and victories over league champions.
“I’m not sure on the point standings (for CCS),” coach Alvarez said after the game. “It was a beautiful win. The girls were ready. Last time they psyched themselves out.”
In their first match of the season, the Mustangs beat San Benito 3-0. Friday’s game, which was moved to Gilroy due to poor field conditions in Hollister, marked the first time San Benito has beaten its most bitter rival in more than four years. The Lady ‘Balers were 0-7-1 against Gilroy during that span.
The Mustangs are assured a first-round home game in the playoffs Wednesday, but they have some things they will have to work on in practice.
“I think we need to put more heart into what we’re doing and work on finishing up top,” Gilroy defender Irene Figueroa said.
Losing the final game of the regular season isn’t the worst thing in the world, of course.
“We gotta get ready for Wednesday,” Hernandez said. “If this means we get to win a CCS game and lose the last regular season game, I’ll take that trade any day.”
TEAM 1 2 F
SANB 1 0 1
GILR 0 0 0
