After losing its first five games of the season, San Benito High girls’ water polo coach Hayley Vandercook didn’t have a single doubt her team would improve as the season went on.
Now we know why.
With a thrilling 7-6 win over visiting Carmel on Thursday, the Haybalers finished 5-7 in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division. San Benito plays an opponent yet to be determined in the opening round of the league playoffs on Tuesday.
“I couldn’t be happier with how the girls played today,” Vandercook said. “They were resilient, tough and really showed what they were made of.”
San Benito’s next goal is simple: Win two league playoff matches, which would earn the Balers an automatic berth into the Central Coast Section playoffs. The postseason seemed far-fetched a month ago, but San Benito has steadily improved each week.
Nowhere was that more apparent than in Thursday’s match, as Erin Hepner led the way with four goals — including the game-winner — to go along with four steals and two assists.
Hepner, a junior utility player, scored the team’s first three goals before providing the game-winning tally with 3 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the contest. Stationed in front of the Carmel goal, Hepner had a defender draped all over her. After the two players tangled for several seconds, Hepner gained separation.
The Carmel goalie saw this and went off her line in anticipation of a shot only to see Hepner deliver a quick turnaround shot. The goal displayed all of Hepner’s attributes: toughness, strength and determination.
“I’ve always been really physical, and that’s one of the reasons why water polo is my favorite sport now,” she said. “This was a really nice result for our team. I can’t be more excited, not only to finish this season strong, but looking ahead to next year, too.”
That’s because the Balers will return their entire starting lineup in 2014, setting up a potentially great season. Thursday’s match was a back-and-forth nail-biter, as the teams traded goals on the first eight tallies.
Tied at 4-4, San Benito then looked to gain separation when it scored two consecutive times midway through the third period on goals from Shannon Stevens and Riley Drexler.
However, just when it looked like the Balers had taken control, Carmel answered with two straight goals to level the match at 6-6 entering the final period. Hepner’s fourth goal accounted for the lone score in the final eight minutes.
Carmel had one last shot at the buzzer, but the shot sailed well over the crossbar.
“I’ve always been confident with this group of girls,” Vandercook said.
