San Benito Rallies to Post a 1-1 Draw Against Live Oak; Ends
Five-Game Skid
Hollister – Sometimes, it’s not just about the wins and losses.
In a hardluck season, the San Benito girls soccer team has often had to look for positives beyond its results on the field. But to the Haybalers’ credit, they have kept their fighting spirit as the losses have piled up.
Last night, they were rewarded.
Trailing 1-0 to visiting Live Oak late in the second half and staring at its sixth consecutive defeat, San Benito could easily have shrugged its shoulders and pocketed another loss. Instead, the ‘Balers turned inwards to find the resolve that allowed them to net a 1-1 tie, giving the team a huge confidence boost heading into the season’s home stretch.
“I think the team did very well,” said San Benito head coach Mike Schurig, whose ‘Balers had been held scoreless over their past four games. “I think [the Acorns] slightly out-possessed us, but we out-momentumed them.”
Playing under the lights at Andy Hardin Stadium, the ‘Balers came out fired up and nearly took the lead right out of the gate. Taking possession shortly after the opening kickoff, San Benito kept the ball on Live Oak’s half of the field for virtually all of the first five minutes.
‘Balers forward Felicia Freitas used a cutback just in the 18-yard box two minutes into the game to lose two Acorns and draw goalie Lorin Acker out, but the forward’s shot at the open net rolled wide left.
San Benito (4-10-3, 0-7-2 TCAL) produced two other shots in the opening sequence–a run that suggested the team’s offensive rut might soon end.
“We should’ve had a couple of goals in there,” said Schurig. “It should’ve been 2-0.”
But Live Oak (3-4-6, 2-2-4 TCAL) recovered to maintain possession for much of the remainder of the half. Acorns midfielder Jenny Emick controlled much of the play and narrowly missed giving her team the lead with a shot in the 14th minute that arced just over the top-left corner of the ‘Balers’ goal.
Emick set up the Acorns’ score in the 28th minute by maneuvering by three San Benito defenders to eventually pass to Sara Whitling, who took a shot from the left side. With the ball sailing through a crowd of players, Live Oak’s Sara Lopez was able to graze it, directing the shot just inside the right post to put her team up 1-0.
Two minutes into the second half, San Benito showed it wasn’t about to roll over. Taking a deep lead from Rachel Maheu, forward Brittany Huth crossed the ball to Freitas directly in front of the Acorns’ net, but the forward’s header sailed over the goal.
In the 60th minute, the ‘Balers’ determination finally paid off.
A throw-in by Janessa Gillies that rolled toward the right flag appeared to be easy pickings for the Live Oak defense. But Freitas raced to the ball, seemingly surprising the Acorns. Acker had come out to grab the ball, but Freitas’ effort forced the goalie to slip.
Though Freitas’ shot from the corner was re-directed out to the top of the 18-yard box, Maheu secured the ball and sent a shot flying over Acker’s outstretched fingertips and into the goal to tie the game.
“After being tired after playing the whole game … she had the burst of energy to play the ball,” said Maheu of Freitas. “I wouldn’t have gotten the goal without Felicia. Everything happened to fall into place.”
The goal, Maheu’s team-leading 11th of the season, gave San Benito a momentum swing that allowed the ‘Balers to withstand Live Oak’s late charge to emerge with the draw.
Stopper Carly Brigantino spearheaded the solid defensive effort, a performance that included fine plays from Nicole Silveira and Brittany Schurig.
The result was the second time this season San Benito and Live Oak have played to a draw. The teams’ finished their Jan. 10 game tied 2-2.
Live Oak coach Tony Vasquez was none too pleased with his team’s showing, especially on the heels of its tie and close 1-0 loss to TCAL-leader Gilroy in its past two games.
“No effort,” said Vasquez. “This was our JV team that showed up today. This team lack leadership. Leadership, desire, heart, motivation.”
Meanwhile, San Benito saw this as its opportunity to turn things around with three games to play.
“In the past, we never would’ve been able to [come close to beating] Live Oak,” said Maheu. “Today, getting the tie tells us we can beat anybody.”
Next up for the ‘Balers is Sobrato, a team San Benito led by two goals at home on Jan. 12 before caving to fall 4-3. If the words from their coach are any indication, don’t look for a repeat of that come kickoff in Morgan Hill tomorrow.
“If we get the lead, we’re not going to give it up,” said Schurig. “We’re going to own that game.”
