San Benito lands 16 players on all-league teams, Schurig named
Co-Coach of the Year
Hollister – After producing the first girls soccer league title in school history, San Benito coach Mike Schurig and his players were well-recognized with a league-high 16 players receiving postseason honors.
“A lot of that comes from our teamwork,” Schurig said. “When you see the depth of our team, everybody contributes. It’s a very special team.”
Highlighting the group was Brittany Huth, who was named the Tri-County Athletic League’s Midfield MVP.
The senior finished second on the team with nine goals – including three in the final two games – and was tied for tops on the team with six assists.
“Hopefully, that will get more colleges to look at me,” Huth said of the honor. Currently, she’s received interest from Southwestern Oregon Community College.
In addition to her production, Huth was the Haybalers dedicated leader on the field.
“Huthy’s been the backbone of this team,” Schurig said.
San Benito’s Sophie Coelho was the unanimous choice as the league’s Freshman of the Year, although Schurig regretted not nominating her for Offensive MVP.
Coelho’s 19 totals goals the season was the second-highest, behind North Salinas’ Tannia Hernandez’s 28. But in league play, Coelho topped all scorers with 12 goals. Hernandez was second with 11.
Sophomore Emily Key was named the co-Goalkeeper MVP, sharing the honor with North Salinas junior Chelsea Campbell. Key notched 103 saves in 18 games in front of the net this season.
“She made some saves that kept us in some games,” Schurig said of Key. “Next year, she’ll be even better.”
Schurig also found himself among the list of honorees. The sixth-year San Benito coach was named co-Coach of the Year for leading the ‘Balers to a 8-3-1 mark in league and a berth in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Schurig shares the mark with Gilroy’s Jose Hernandez, whose Mustangs went 7-1-4 in TCAL action and shared the league title with San Benito.
Gilroy’s Amanda Bruce took the overall league MVP award, beating out Huth for the top honor. North Salinas’ Hernandez grabbed the Offensive MVP and Notre Dame’s Sydney Busch was the Defensive MVP.
Joining Huth, Coelho and Key on the All-TCAL first team was sophomore forward JC Clayton and junior defender Rachel Maheu.
Clayton missed the first few games due to injury before returning and catching fire. She was a perfect compliment to Coelho on the offensive side of the ball and finished third on the team with eight goals.
“JC’s been such a smart player,” Schurig said, noting her defensive play late in San Benito’s title-clinching win over Salinas.
Maheu proved to be one of the biggest keys to the ‘Balers success late in the season. After starting the year as a midfielder, she moved to defender after the team lost senior Carly Brigantino to injury and helped take control of the back half of the field.
“She just stepped back there and it was almost like a flawless transition,” Schurig said of the third-year varsity player, who was San Benito’s leading scorer with 12 goals last season.
The ‘Balers also had five players make the second team, highlighted by Brigantino, who likely would’ve been an easy first-team selection and a candidate for Defensive MVP had she not been injured.
Senior defender Ashley Perreira, sophomore defender Christiana Perez, senior midfielder Vere Fonseca and sophomore forward Yaira Lizarraga also were second-team selections.
Senior Sarah Mullen, junior Janessa Gillies and freshman Samantha Moreno earned honorable mention recognition and Courtney Allen, Rachael Jett and Brittany Henderson were selected to the sportsmanship team.
