The San Benito girls soccer team was able to stay with one of
the most dominant teams in TCAL before eventually losing 5-1 in the
league opener Thursday against Live Oak.
For 40 minutes, the Balers (4-5-2, 0-1 TCAL) were consistently
moving the ball and creating opportunities to score. The defense
led by players like Becky Bonner kept the pressure up and made it
tough for the Balers.
The San Benito girls soccer team was able to stay with one of the most dominant teams in TCAL before eventually losing 5-1 in the league opener Thursday against Live Oak.
For 40 minutes, the Balers (4-5-2, 0-1 TCAL) were consistently moving the ball and creating opportunities to score. The defense led by players like Becky Bonner kept the pressure up and made it tough for the Balers.
“We dominated the first half, but then we let them take charge of the second half,” said Baler coach Mike Schurig. “We couldn’t generate many shots. They came back very strong. You got to give them credit. We had good tenacity to start the game, and we were fired up going after every single ball.”
The Acorns may have been a little surpised by the intensity the Balers started off with. It is not often that the Acorns are behind in a game or even scored upon during league. Last season Live Oak gave up just four goals in league – two of which were to San Benito.
“We didn’t match their intensity in the first 25 minutes of the game,” said Acorn coach Tony Vasquez. “We just started to relax more in the second and pass the ball. I think we matched their intensity in the second half and played more controlled. The girls were able to compose themselves with the high pressure that the Balers put on.”
Rose Vandenburg, who had missed a shot high, gave the Balers the early lead in the 14th minute on a nice assist by Jenny Maheu. Maheu kept the ball in play and then created some space for Vandenburg to hit the angle shot from the right side.
“We capitalized once, but we should have scored more,” Vandenburg said. “And I don’t even know what happened in the second half. We just fell apart. We have been working really hard. The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but hopefully we will learn from it.”
Vandenburg had another field goal attempt that was high as well later in the game. The football uprights were right behind the goal box and may have been a little distracting.
“The field was not in too good of condition, and I wasn’t able to get planted for a good shot,” Vandenburg said.
Seconds before the half, the Acorns were awarded a penalty kick. Janae Pimental’s shot was stopped by Baler goalie Mary Von Urff. But the ball trickled out to Von Urff’s right. And Lena Marsh charged in and took the shot, which hit the far post and ricocheted into the goal.
“Even though they scored on the PK, we stopped it,” Schurig said. “Mary did a good job to get there. Most goalkeepers can’t even get to a ball like that.”
That goal gave the Acorns new life in the second half, and they pounded in four goals against the Balers, who normally don’t give up much late in the game.
Coming into the game, the Balers had allowed 13 goals in the first half and just six in the second. The Balers were able to generate little offense in the second half.
“I am a little disappointed that we didn’t come out as strong as we should have in the second half and have in the past,” Schurig said. “Until today, the vast majority of goals scored against us were first-half goals.”
The Balers’ best chance to score in the second half came on a nice shot taken by Maheu about 30 yards out. But the Live Oak goalie got a hand on it. Vandenburg took the following corner – a banana kick which found its way to the goalie.
Late in the first half, Amy Baxter had a good attempt in front of the goal on a corner kick, but the ball was cleared out.
The Acorns have 10 underclassmen playing on the team and don’t have the experience the six seniors bring to the Balers.
“Their play was a little different from last year,” Schurig said. “They still got the good possessive play and good passing. They have a lot more through balls because of the youth on the team.”
The emergency crew was busy during the afternoon games, mending smashed Acorns.
Jesse Seda was taken to the hospital with a broken leg she suffered after a shin-to-shin collision during San Benito’s 2-0 win during the JV game.
With 12 minutes left to go in the varsity game, freshman midfielder Shawna McKeown was taken off the field after a neck injury, and the game was postponed about 15 minutes.
Acorn forward Michelle McDonald injured her ankle early in the second half, but once it was wrapped up, she was back on the field.
She even managed to score a pair of goals – one off an assist from Allison Mutz and one from an assist by Acorn speedster Cobbie Jones.
Both Mutz and Jones added goals in the second half. Mutz scored her goal on a header on a perfectly placed corner kick from Pimental.
“The game was physical, but it was not intimidating from either side,” Schurig said. “It was a good solid game. The score was a little lopsided and didn’t really reflect how the game really was.”
San Benito will be at Gilroy on Jan. 12. The Acorns and the Balers will meet for round two Jan. 27.
