The Hollister High girls soccer team will not back into the
Central Coast Section playoffs. The Balers went through the front
door with a 4-2 victory at Notre Dame Wednesday in the final
Tri-County Athletic League match of the season.
The Hollister High girls soccer team will not back into the Central Coast Section playoffs. The Balers went through the front door with a 4-2 victory at Notre Dame Wednesday in the final Tri-County Athletic League match of the season.
Hollister (15-4-2, 8-1-1) await seeding in the CCS Division I playoffs this Saturday at 1 p.m. The Balers, ranked 14th in the CCS before today’s new poll came out, should be seeded anywhere from sixth to eighth if the rankings are any indication. That would mean a first round game, possibly at home, either next Tuesday or Wednesay.
“It’s very exciting,” said senior sweeper Brianna Griffith. “We’re really happy and I’m really happy to be going to the CCS playoffs my senior year.”
The Balers, who led 3-0 at the half, had two goals each from Kory Case and Jennifer Vandenberg. Vandenberg was credited with two assists, with Jenny Maheu given an assist, also.
“We warned the girls at half not to let up,” said Baler coach Michael Schurig. “But Notre Dame came out a different team in the second half and we were taken aback. We finally go back on track.”
There was good news and bad news for the Balers. The good news is that defender Amy Baxter played for the first time since late December after recovering from knee surgery. Baxter played about 15 minutes in the second half and played well, according to Schurig. He hopes to be able to play Baxter at least a half in the first playoff game.
The bad news was that sophomore midfielder Julie Broyer hurt her ankle so badly that she was taken to a local hospital for x-rays. Her status is day-to-day.
Baler bits: Santa Teresa, two-time defending CCS Division I champ, will be the top seed this year. Five other teams ranked ahead of the Balers will play in Division I – Leigh, Homestead, Aragon, Live Oak and Mt. Pleasant. Santa Clara is also a possibility.
JV score: Balers 5, Notre Dame 1. Felicia Freitas had three goals and Erica Trujillo had two goals for the Balers. Goalie Melissa Aguilar had the assist of the match when she booted one all the way down and the Balers responded with a goal.
