Team 1-1 after first league games
With league play in the Tri County Athletic League getting under
way this past week in the 2007-2008 girls soccer season, it appears
that the Mustangs of Gilroy High are one of the favorites to claim
stake in the league title this year.
Team 1-1 after first league games
With league play in the Tri County Athletic League getting under way this past week in the 2007-2008 girls soccer season, it appears that the Mustangs of Gilroy High are one of the favorites to claim stake in the league title this year.
But that doesn’t mean that the defending champion Haybalers of San Benito High don’t also have the firepower to win the title again this year.
“That is our goal to win league and advance past the first round of the Central Coast Section playoffs,” said Baler coach Mike Schurig, who is now in his seventh season at the helm of the San Benito High program.
A year ago, the Balers posted a record of 13-6-2 overall and 8-3-1 in league to share the league title with Gilroy before losing 4-2 to San Jose’s Leigh High in the opening round of the playoffs.
Although they lost seven players to graduation, this year the Balers take the field with a solid mix of returning players coupled with a strong group of four freshmen that includes three regular starters.
The Balers are the only team in the league that has the luxury of returning the TCAL’s “Goalie of the Year” in Emily Key. Last season Key made 109, and has four shutout wins to her credit and has played well in the early going this season.
“She’s very strong and she has good range,” Schurig said. “She’s been stopping a lot of balls and is doing a good job for us.”
Before those balls make their way to Key, Rachel Maheu has proved to be a key stopper at the sweeper position. As the team’s last line of defense before reaching the goalie, Maheu has been able to break up a number of plays this season while jump-starting the Baler’s push back up to the offensive side of the field.
“She commands a great presence out there,” Schurig said. “She really stays on top of things.”
At the strategically important center midfield position, the Balers have two strong players – one is junior J.C. Clayton and the other is freshman standout Sara Yamaski.
One of the team’s three captains, Clayton, acts as the field general or quarterback on the soccer field. She has impressed Schurig with her ability to direct plays, both offensively and defensively.
“The whole team revolves around her,” he said. “She is the hub of the team.”
Although hands and arms aren’t used in soccer, Yamaski has most impressed her coach with her ability to place sideline throw-ins just about wherever she wants.
“She can throw them 30 to 40 yards,” Schurig said. “She even scored on a throw in against Notre Dame when it went off the goalie’s fingertips.”
In the field, the young freshman has also impressed with her footwork and strong ability to pass.
While Clayton and Yamaski shore up the play in the middle of the field, senior Janessa Gillies, a team captain, has looked solid at the right outside midfield position.
“She is wonderful at both cross and corner kicks,” Schurig said. “She has really played well.”
A year ago Sophie Coelho was named the league’s Freshman Player of the Year. As a sophomore, she could win the MVP title. So far this season she has scored seven goals and has tacked on another five assists to lead the Baler’s offensive charge. And her coach only sees her getting better and better.
“She’s matured a lot and she’s more disciplined out there,” Schurig said. “She handles the pressure well, and passes and takes the shot well.”
Playing alongside Coelho is another underclassman that has shown a prowess for putting the ball in the net. Freshman Hannah Cobb has three goals and a pair of assists this season.
“She helps Sophie out up top,” said Schurig of Cobb, who plays year-round at the club level as well. “She’s a good player.”
With a solid core group of players Schurig is expecting his team to be in position to win a league title by the time the final week of the season rolls around in February.
In the Balers first two games to open league play they picked up a 2-0 win over Notre Dame before dropping a 4-0 contest at Gilroy last Friday.
“We’re a good team this year,” Schurig said. “Even the loss to Gilroy was closer than the score indicated. They scored three goals in six minutes in the second half to put it away. We had a lot of opportunities; we just didn’t score. But I’m definitely pleased with the way we’re playing this year.”
