Acorns may have the winning history, but Gilroy girls’ soccer
has the talent
Girls soccer action got underway this week in the Tri County
Athletic League, and this year Gilroy High appears to have enough
tools to at least make a run at the mighty Acorns of Live Oak that
will be gunning for their 15th league title in a row.
But for the Balers of San Benito High it could be another story
as they look to replace prolific scorer Jennifer Rose Vandenberg,
who graduated last May after accounting for 90 percent of the Baler
goals a season ago.
Acorns may have the winning history, but Gilroy girls’ soccer has the talent
Girls soccer action got underway this week in the Tri County Athletic League, and this year Gilroy High appears to have enough tools to at least make a run at the mighty Acorns of Live Oak that will be gunning for their 15th league title in a row.
But for the Balers of San Benito High it could be another story as they look to replace prolific scorer Jennifer Rose Vandenberg, who graduated last May after accounting for 90 percent of the Baler goals a season ago.
On Tuesday the Balers opened the season with a 7-0 home loss to Gilroy High, which left San Benito coach Mike Schurig looking for answers.
“We’re a young team and we’re developing as we go,” Schurig said. “We need to tighten up our defense and work on getting new offensive threats. The last few years we relied on one player to score. Now we need to develop as a team. I’d like to have more balance.”
This season Vandenberg is playing soccer at UCLA on a partial scholarship. In her absence, Schurig is forging ahead with a varsity roster that includes five freshman, three sophomores, four seniors and a few juniors.
One sophomore that looks to have enough skills to at least ease the loss of Vandenberg is Rachel Maheu.
In the early going this season the developing forward is leading the team with seven goals.
“Right now she passes off a lot or shoots too early,” Schurig said. “What she needs to do is get more confidence.”
In addition to Maheu, Schurig is relying heavily on a number of young starters, including freshman Jacqueline Clayton, sophomore Janess Gillies and sophomore Ashlyn Gonzales.
Clayton has impressed Schurig with her ability to play a number of positions, including center midfield, forward and defense.
“She has very good ball skills,” said the Baler coach. “She has a sense of where to play, and she’s aggressive and physical.”
Gillies is seeing the bulk of her playing time in the right outside midfield position. She is most skilled at making corner kicks, has a strong shot and also handles the ball well, Schurig said.
Gonzales has a lot of talent as well, according to Schurig, and has been battling an ankle sprain as of late. She is also one of the most tenacious players on the Baler roster.
“She’s a fiery player,” Schurig said. “She’s very hungry and she wants to make goals. She’s also great at getting the ball up field.”
Defensively, the Balers will look to first-year varsity player Sarah Mullen to help in the backfield as well as the solid play of sweeper Brittany Huth to shut down the opposition’s attack. For Huth, a co-captain, it is her third season playing varsity.
“Brittany is the spirit and lifeblood of this team,” Schurig said. “She’s the spirit of the team and a great leader. She can play anywhere. I needed a solid sweeper this year but she can play anywhere.”
Another difficult void to fill was left with the graduation of All-League goalie Mary Von Urff. This season the Balers will take the field with Ashley Perriera in goal. Although this is her first year starting Perriera is familiar to the position and was Von Urff’s backup the last three seasons.
“She’s a solid goalie – not as aggressive as Mary was but she’s getting better,” said Schurig.
While the Balers are in a rebuilding mode, Gilroy High appears to have a finished product – at least that’s the impression anyone would have got who watched them dismantle the Balers in the season opener.
Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Balers, Gilroy was 0-4-2 in preseason play. But the record was a little misleading since Gilroy had a difficult schedule against all top teams in the preseason.
“Five of the six were A League teams and three of them were in the CCS (Central Coast Section) semifinals last season,” said Gilroy High’s third-year coach Jose Hernandez.
A year ago the Mustangs finished a game back of undefeated league champion Live Oak. Gilroy made the playoffs but was eliminated by Leland High School in the opening round of the CCS playoffs.
This year the Mustangs go into league play with 14 returning players, six of which are seniors. And four of them are First Team All-League returnees.
One is midfielder Joann Olivo-Pedroza.
“She’s the most complete player in the area and has an aggressive style of play,” Hernandez said. “She has a real physical presence that you usually don’t see in girls play.”
In the league opener in Hollister, Olivo-Pedroza used that aggressiveness to her advantage as she racked up four goals to lead her team to victory.
Another midfielder to watch this season is junior Amada Bruce. Hernandez is most impressed by her vision on the field and her ability to make things happen.
Defensively, senior Kendra Sato is expected to hold down the fort in Gilroy’s 3-4-3 lineup, which utilizes three defenseman, four midfielders and three forwards. In the early going, Sato has looking impressive by her ability to break up plays and clear the ball.
“She has great game-time focus and is prepared both mentally and physically,” said Hernandez.
In goal this year for the Mustangs is sophomore Sara Hugo. Hugo has solid goaltending skills but is also versatile enough to play most anywhere on the field.
“Our strengths this year are going to be our ability to focus, speed and teamwork,” Hernandez said. “I think that if we can communicate out there and pass the ball that we’ll be tough to beat.”
