Yamasaki, Coelho supply scores for Lady ‘Balers
Salinas – Poor officiating and poor finishing led to San Benito’s 2-2 tie with North Salinas, coach Mike Schurig said on Friday, as the host Vikings held the Lady ‘Balers to their first tie in the Tri-County Athletic League.
San Benito (7-3-1, 2-1-1 TCAL) took 19 shots on net, but the Lady ‘Balers just couldn’t put enough past keeper Chelsea Campbell, who made eight saves in the game.
“Our finishing could have been better in the first half,” Schurig said. “We were shooting on frame, but they’re goalkeeper was very, very good.”
The coach commented on the team’s finishing, adding that San Benito had situations inside the Vikings box, but opted to pass at certain times than shoot.
“We need to shoot more. We need to finish,” Schurig said he told his team afterward. “When you’re in the 18, you need to shoot for the goal. Hopefully, we’ll learn from this experience.”
North Salinas only took 10 shots on net, with ‘Baler goalies credited for five saves, one in the second half.
San Benito’s Sara Yamasaki put the Haybalers on the scoreboard first in the 5th minute off a pass from JC Clayton, while North Salinas tied it in the 23rd minute when Anna Laura Sanchez scored a rebound goal off a penalty kick.
San Benito would take a 2-1 lead when Sophie Coelho scored unassisted in the 29th minute, but Viking Maria Tavarez set up Patricia Magdaleno in the 34th minute to tie the game at two goals a piece.
Schurig, though, questioned the officiating afterward. The coach said there was a hand-ball that was not called on North Salinas in their box around the 20th minute, a non-call which would have led to a San Benito penalty kick. Two minutes later, the ‘Balers were whistled for a hand-ball in North Salinas’ box.
Later, San Benito keeper Emily Key came out of the net to make a sliding save, but instead was called for a dangerous play. As a result, Key was handed a yellow card and North Salinas was given a penalty kick – a penalty kick that led to the rebound goal by Sanchez.
San Benito will look to rebound themselves when they host Alisal (3-5-1, 0-1-1 TCAL) on Friday. Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m.
JV Note: The San Benito junior varsity team routed their North Salinas counterparts 7-0 Friday in Salinas.
