The playoff-bound San Benito girls soccer was represented on the
All-TCAL team with eight players on the First of Second Team and 12
total.
”
I can feel comfortable with any of these 12 girls starting,
”
said Baler coach Michael Schurig.
”
It is a great pleasure to see the work that they are doing. All
20 showed up pretty much every day and put in the work and had fun
doing it.
”
The playoff-bound San Benito girls soccer was represented on the All-TCAL team with eight players on the First of Second Team and 12 total.
“I can feel comfortable with any of these 12 girls starting,” said Baler coach Michael Schurig. “It is a great pleasure to see the work that they are doing. All 20 showed up pretty much every day and put in the work and had fun doing it.”
The first team was composed of the four Haybaler captains. Rose Vandenberg, who led the league with 25 goals and 15 assists, was selected as the MVP Offensive player.
Schurig said she could have easily been selected as the overall MVP.
“They pretty much wanted to narrow it down to seniors,” Schurig said. “If you pull any of the other selections out, the wins and losses wouldn’t have been as affected. You pull Rose out and the whole dynamics of the league change.”
Vandenberg, a junior, is being looked at by teams lsuch as UCLA and UC Davis. She has led the league in goals her past three years. Last year, she set the Central Coast Section record for most goals in a season.
“She is great leader and is soft-spoken,” Schurig said. “She is committed to the sport and has gotten other players training and conditioning outside of practice.”
Jenny Maheu, who was injured after the Live Oak game, was selected as the MVP Senior.
“If she had been playing year-round soccer, she would have Division 1 schools looking at her too,” Schurig said. “Her speed and fearlessness is now controlled so that she can head the ball or kick it in. She becomes a great partner for Rose.”
Maheu and Vandenberg were almost neck-and-neck in goals until Maheu was injured. Maheu was cleared Monday to play in the CCS game, and Schurig is looking forward to having the extra weapon.
Amy Baxter, who is coming off a knee injury that forced her to miss most of last season, has given the Balers a strong defense. She came back in the final two games last year with a cast on.
“She is very disciplined and very smart,” Schurig said. “Rarely does she panic. She is always aware of what is going on.”
Becky Bonner is another San Benito defender who has progressed a long ways.
“A couple years ago, she was the cheerleader on the field and didn’t play much,” Schurig said. “She is always getting them going. She is quick with a smile or joke. Now she is a dominant force on the field and a great team leader. She will surprise everyone by bringing the ball up the field, even without some of the best dribbling skills, then get back in her position.”
Bonner also makes precise throw-ins to give her teammates chances to move around.
Goalie Mary Von Urff has consistently kept the Balers in games.
“If I had five First Teamers, she would be up there” Schurig said. “She gave us a fighting chance when our offense went up against a tough defense.”
Michelle Sanchez has given the Balers a solid effort in the midfield.
“She is always keeping the ball in play,” Schurig said. “She has great footwork. She has such tenacity and does not give up offensively and defensively.”
Center midfielder Chantel Guajardo is also known for her aggressive defense.
“We tell her to mark up an offensive threat in a game, and that person doesn’t score,” Schurig said. “She was able to take both Michelle McDonald and Mellisa Smit out of their games.”
Freshman Brittany Huth has been in the starting lineup since day one and has been very versatile. She started at the left defense spot and moved up to midfield and forward. Huth has four goals this year.
“She is a very good athlete and can play any of those positions,” Schurig said. “She keeps getting better. She will be a major force for us in the future, especially losing six seniors next year.”
The hard work for the Balers has paid off with the No. 12 seed in the Division 1 playoffs.
“The girls have accomplished a lot, but they are not ready to end the season,” Schurig said.
