As a freshman, Hollister High’s Jenny Maheu was the go-to player
for her Baler varsity girls soccer team. Last season, Maheu had to
make way for a wunderkind named Jennifer Vandenberg.
As a freshman, Hollister High’s Jenny Maheu was the go-to player for her Baler varsity girls soccer team. Last season, Maheu had to make way for a wunderkind named Jennifer Vandenberg.
Each girl had club soccer in her veins. Maheu played with the Hollister Tremors travel team until she was 13 and had played club soccer since she was a little girl. Vandenberg, now a sophomore, had played club soccer since she was 8 and had gained immeasurable experience from Morgan Hill to Sunnyvale.
The two superb athletes were paired up-top for new coach Michael Schurig. The combination of Vandenberg and Maheu clicked at times and at other times misfired. At times, one zigged while the other zagged. Then there were times when everything was beautiful.
The talk was that Maheu wasn’t thrilled with the new kid on the block taking all the shots and getting all the glory. Maheu said it wasn’t that way at all.
“We didn’t know how each other played,” said Maheu. “Plus, our midfield has more ball control this season than it did last year.”
Whatever the lack of chemistry was a year ago, it reversed its trend this season. Vandenberg’s 55 goals is reported to be the most ever recorded in a season in the Central Coast Section. Add Maheu’s 36 goals and one may deduce that 91 combined goals for two players on the same team may also be a record.
They each have taken turn assisting the other. Vandenberg has 19 assists on the year, and while Maheu’s assist total was not official, it’s in double digits.
The dynamite duo leads 12th-seeded Hollister into the CCS Division I playoffs Wednesday at fifth-seeded Leland at 2:30 p.m.
If the Balers are to defeat the Chargers, the electric Maheu and the silky-smooth Vandenberg, who draws a great deal of attention from the opposing defense, must lead the way.
Vandenberg is a member of the District II Olympic development pool. She’ll try to tryout for the ODP state team in early March at a two-weekend tryout in Morgan Hill.
Maheu no longer plays club soccer, opting to concentrate on softball.
“Softball became more competitive,” said Maheu, who has been clocked from home to first in 2.6 seconds. “Hey, if someone offers me a soccer scholarship instead of one for softball, I’ll take it. I don’t think it will happen because scouts watch club soccer and recruit from there.”
“Jenny is a great athlete,” said Vandenberg. “She’s an awesome soccer player now. She’d be even more awesome if she played club soccer. But softball is her thing.”
The key to the Balers’ success this season has been the development of the relationship between Maheu and Vandenberg.
“It comes with time,” said Vandenberg. “We really got to know each other this year. The relationship is much better between us.”
“We’ve had a much better friendship on and off the field,” added Maheu. “I know what she’s doing on the field now all the time. A lot of times, we don’t have to say a word. We just know.”
Maheu, who scored just 11 goals last season, said she is more patient this year.
“I’m more patient with others,” said Maheu. “That has been the key for me. I’m getting more opportunities this season, too.”
Vandenberg totaled 22 goals as a freshman. Not too shabby, but this year’s total is nearly three times that number.
“I set a goal before the year started that I wanted to score 40 goals this season,” said Vandenberg. “It’s amazing I’ve scored 55. I’ve been blessed.”
The two players have contrasting styles. Maheu is more full-speed-ahead, a little tougher, and she’ll battle you.
Vandenberg has to be one of the best dribblers in the CCS. She has the ability to juke out three defenders in a short span, then stop and power the ball past the goalie, who doesn’t know whether to come out or stay back.
Vandenberg is also deadly on corner and direct kicks, and she has to be durable because many a defense chooses to get physical with her.
“She makes the players on our team sharper with the way she plays in the game and the way she practices,” said Schurig. “Last year she was a quiet leader. This year she has become more vocal. She’s done a great job of motivating the team. Maheu is a better thinker this year. Her touch is much better this year, especially on the close shots. She’s a good with assists and is the top header on the team.”
No matter what happens Wednesday, both Maheu and Vandenberg will be back for one more year in 2003-04. They join a host of other young and talented players returning.
“I expect big things for us next year,” said Vandenberg.
Next year will be hard-pressed to top this one.
