Ten girls make first and second teams
Despite making an early exit from the Central Coast Section
playoffs, the co-league champion San Benito High girls soccer team
learned this week that 10 of its players made the Tri County
Athletic League’s prestigious All-League squad
– five Baler girls were selected to the First Team while the
other five made the Second Team list.
Ten girls make first and second teams
Despite making an early exit from the Central Coast Section playoffs, the co-league champion San Benito High girls soccer team learned this week that 10 of its players made the Tri County Athletic League’s prestigious All-League squad – five Baler girls were selected to the First Team while the other five made the Second Team list.
In addition to making the First Team squad Baler senior Brittany Huth was named the MVP midfielder of the league while sophomore Emily Key earned the same top award for the high-profile goalie position.
A four-year varsity player, Huth is known for her ability to contribute just about anywhere she is plugged into the starting line-up. This season she played in the Baler backfield as well as at midfield and forward. She wound up the season finishing second in team scoring with 10 goals.
“She was a smart player, good at pushing the team,” San Benito High coach Mike Schurig said. “She really was the backbone of the team, a strong leader.”
If Huth was the backbone then Key was the ribcage, as she stopped shot after shot from penetrating between the goal posts.
A year ago as a freshman, Key got the nod to start in goal but her stint there was short-lived after suffering a broken collarbone early on in the season.
This year, she was pumped up and ready to go from day one.
“She wasn’t afraid at all in there,” Schurig said. “She was very psyched up, and she grew a lot this year as both an individual and a player.”
Another player who earned First Team honors this year did so as a freshman – but she played each game like a skilled senior. And by the time the season had ended Sophie Coelho was the most feared forward in the league.
“She was a great finisher,” said Schurig of his league-leading goal scorer. “She had 19 goals – 12 of them were in league. She really showed a lot of growth throughout the season.”
Coelho also had the knack for taking the right shot at the right time as all of her goals were scored on just 28 shots on the net.
Rachel Maheu, a three-year varsity starter, the standout junior started out the year at forward but was moved back to the Baler backfield when Carly Brigantino went down with a knee injury to fill in at the stopper position.
“She liked to play on both sides of the ball and brought a lot of speed and tenacity to the team,” Schurig said.
Another player to make the First Team was sophomore J.C. Clayton, who scored eight goals from the other forward position.
“She grew tremendously from last year. She matured as a leader on the field and was one of our team captains,” Schurig said. “She really stepped it up this year and made good decisions on the field.”
The five players that made the Second Team squad were: Ashley Perreira, Christiana Perez, Brigantino, Verenice Fonseca and Yaira Lizarraga.
A four-year varsity player, Perreira made it for her stellar play at the sweeper position.
“She also played goalie for us one time,” Schurig said. “But it was her sweeper ability that was just incredible. She saved a couple of goals for us.”
Perez, a sophomore, was recognized for her solid play on both defense and in the midfield. Schurig was most impressed with the “tremendous passion” that she had for the game.
Had Brigantino not gone down with a knee injury midway through the season and missed seven games, Schurig believes she would have not only have made the First Team list but would have been named the league’s defensive MVP.
“She was a great force and a great leader,” he said. “She really put her all into it.”
A second-year senior, Fonseca was another player that gave it her all every time she stepped on the field to play the midfield position.
“She was a fireball. If you looked up the definition for tenacity, you’d see her picture there,” Schurig said. “She would battle on both sides of the ball the whole game. I could always count on her to play her position. She had great passing skills and footwork too.”
Lizarraga, a sophomore, was the last Baler player named to the Second Team list. Like Fonseca, she too was very passionate about the game and aggressive.
“She fought hard for all the balls,” Schurig said. “She could play forward or midfield in the right, left or center position, and she was good at helping the forwards, midfielders and the defense out. She really got involved out there.”
Next year, Schurig’s expectations will be soaring again as 15 of his players will be returning to try and repeat as league champions, and go a lot deeper into the postseason.
“I’m already looking forward to it,” Schurig said. “I think we’ll be as good or better next year.”
