The San Benito High girls soccer team doesn’t give up many
goals. One of the main reasons is junior Mary Von Urff, who has
been rock solid this year in goal.
”
She has done a great job in everything that she does,
”
said Haybaler coach Mike Schurig.
”
She has a great positive attitude. She came to us with the
skills and the fearlessness of going for the ball, but she didn’t
have the confidence. That developed over time. This year, she has
come out with more confidence.
”
The San Benito High girls soccer team doesn’t give up many goals. One of the main reasons is junior Mary Von Urff, who has been rock solid this year in goal.
“She has done a great job in everything that she does,” said Haybaler coach Mike Schurig. “She has a great positive attitude. She came to us with the skills and the fearlessness of going for the ball, but she didn’t have the confidence. That developed over time. This year, she has come out with more confidence.”
This season is Von Urff’s third year of playing goalie on the varsity team. During her freshman year, she played on the JV team as goalie. Last year as a sophomore, Von Urff earned the starting position.
Von Urff, who played goalie in middle school, was planning to sit out her freshman year to concentrate on competing in high school rodeo. But a friend convinced her to come out and play soccer because the team needed a goalie.
Von Urff said she doesn’t have any plans to get back into the rodeo now that she is living in Hollister and not Paicines.
When she is not busy lassoing loose soccer balls, she competes in tennis and track. Von Urff, who maintains a GPA of about 3.5, is in AP and honors classes. She also serves as the ASB school board representative.
“I have always done a lot,” Von Urff said. “When I am not busy, I always have to be doing something. I really have to be organized to get everything done.”
Von Urff competed in the Baler fall club team and was able to improve her skills by facing some stiff competition.
“Because we played a lot of tough teams, we gave her a lot of practice and a lot of shots on goal,” Schurig said. “Even though we lost several games and would have three or four goals scored against us per game, she was able to stop more than that, and it has paid off this year.”
Von Urff has been working with Nick Vandenburg, who played for the Balers last year. Vandenburg, who is Schurig’s nephew, uses his experience as a pesky forward to get Von Urff prepared for whatever the opposition can kick at her.
In the 10 games the Balers have played this year, Von Urff has had about 50 saves, Schurig estimated.
“She has a good eye on the field and has provided good leadership,” Schurig said. “She is not afraid to try things and to get out there and take the ball right off their feet. She does a great job of taking them off their game.”
“I just try predicting what the players are going to be doing and try being in a rhythm with my team,” Von Urff said.
The young netminder commended her teammates for the success of the preseason.
“They are really strong for me,” Von Urff said. “They deny a lot of shots. I depend a lot on the team. We have more experience, so I feel stronger this year. We have a really strong team like a family. The coaches really help us work on team building, so it not just about winning.”
Von Urff said she is looking forward to the challenge of facing Live Oak in the league opener Thursday.
“It will be a great game,” Von Urff said. “They are our best competition. Hopefully, we can come together and show them what we got. We have a really good team. We have come a long way since last year. With the all the mental and physical preparation we have done, I think we can bring it together.”
