San Benito moves into tie with Gilroy for first place with 4-3
win
Hollister – Brittany Huth ended her career at Andy Hardin Stadium in grand fashion, scoring a pair of goals including the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 77th minute as San Benito returned to first place in the Tri-County Athletic League girls soccer race with a 4-3 win over Alisal.
“I was scared for my life,” Huth said of her emotions as she lined up for the PK. “I wanted to score that goal so bad.”
With the win, the Haybalers (12-5-2, 7-3-1, 22 points TCAL) jump past idle North Salinas and move into a tie for the league’s top spot with Gilroy (9-5-5, 6-1-4, 22 points), which earned a 2-0 win over Salinas on Tuesday.
San Benito wraps up the regular season at Salinas at 5:30pm Thursday while the Mustangs host Alisal at 6:30pm. A ‘Baler win would assure them at least a co-championship depending on the result of the Gilroy game. It would also clinch a Central Coast Section playoff berth for San Benito.
“That means a lot to us,” coach Mike Schurig said. “We’ve given it our all this season. We had a couple of games that we could’ve done better but if we win Thursday, we go to CCS and that’ll be our goal.”
It almost appeared that Thursday’s game would become an afterthought.
Alisal jumped on the ‘Balers quickly, with Irais Lopez heading a shot over the head of San Benito goalkeeper Emily Key in the eighth minute for a 1-0 lead.
The Trojans (5-11-3, 3-5-3) added to the lead in the 23rd minute when Key tried to chase down a ball in the far right corner of the box but Alisal’s Celene Sanchez sent the ball toward the net and Lopez knocked it in for a 2-0 lead.
“I was very nervous because we made mistakes that caused us to be down 2-0,” Schurig said. “I saw a win we should’ve had more decisively start to slip away.”
That appeared to wake San Benito up. Four minutes later, Huth sent a through ball to freshman Sophie Coelho, who dribbled up the right side and sent a cross shot to the left and into the net for her 18th goal of the year.
Five minutes after that, Rachel Maheu booted a long pass that JC Clayton used her speed to get to on the left side and then rocketed a strong shot past the keeper to tie the game at 2-2 entering halftime.
But the Trojans didn’t give up fighting and in the 51st minute, Erika Velasquez lined up for a free kick that was blocked. The ball came back to her and her high looping shot was out of Key’s reach and Alisal regained a 3-2 lead.
With the San Benito bench growing nervous and the entire team pushing to create some offense, the ‘Balers finally found it in the 65th minute. Vere Fonseca shot a pass to Clayton, who dished to Huth. The senior captain then lifted a high lob shot into the net to tie it at 3-3.
While San Benito was frustrated throughout the game with what it perceived as some blown calls by the officials, the ‘Balers got the call they wanted at the most opportune time as Alisal was whistled for a hand ball in the box in the 77th minute.
“I just thank God it was a clear hand ball and that he gave us the foul,” Schurig said.
That’s when Huth delivered the heroics and San Benito didn’t let down and pulled out the important victory.
