‘Balers can’t hold on to 2-0 lead against Gilroy in TCAL
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Hollister – Poised for its first Tri-County Athletic League girls soccer victory in nearly two years, San Benito couldn’t quite hold on and settled for a 2-2 tie Thursday against rival Gilroy.
The Haybalers (5-3-1, 0-1 TCAL) took an early 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by freshman Sophie Coelho – who recorded her third straight two-goal game – but the Mustangs quickly answered Coelho’s second goal and then found the back of the net in the game’s 77th minute to earn the draw.
“We got ahead quickly and (Gilroy) got in close and we allowed them to tie the game up,” San Benito coach Mike Schurig said. “We had a couple of breakdowns. But (Gilroy) is a good team.”
The ‘Balers, playing in their first TCAL game after Tuesday’s match with Notre Dame was postponed, got ahead quickly. In the game’s fifth minute, Coelho received a pass inside from Janessa Gillies and fired it in the net for a 1-0 lead.
The intensity of the game picked up from there. In the 10th minute, both teams received a warning after a brief on-field altercation.
Five minutes later, San Benito sophomore Rachael Jett sent a pass to fellow sophomore JC Clayton. She passed along to Coelho, whose shot was deflected by Gilroy goalkeeper Bianca Catanzaro, but the shot still rolled into the net for a 2-0 lead.
The Mustangs got back in the game four minutes later when Stephanie Glenn headed in a corner kick by Amanda Bruce to make it 2-1 midway through the half.
Gilroy had several opportunities to score throughout the second half, but was turned away by some terrific saves by ‘Balers’ goalkeeper Emily Key and some shots that sailed just wide, leaving Mustangs’ coach Jose Hernandez to have flashbacks to the team’s matchup in Hollister two years ago – the last time San Benito beat Gilroy.
“Two years ago, we had a similar game,” he recalled. “We controlled all the shots but we lost 1-0 in the last three minutes.”
The Mustangs got the break they needed with nine minutes left in the game when San Benito senior midfielder and captain Brittany Huth picked up her second yellow card of the game and was ejected.
Six minutes later, Bruce found the back of the net with a strong kick from 20 yards out that went off the hands of Key to earn the tie for Gilroy.
“They were able to take some momentum when Huth got kicked out,” ‘Balers coach Mike Schurig said. “She’s a force out there.”
Junior Varsity
Gilroy and San Benito also hooked up in junior varsity action and the Mustangs earned a 2-0 victory on the road.
