San Benito is confident heading into today’s season opener
against Anzar
Hollister – Last year was a tough season for the San Benito girls soccer team.
The ‘Balers were a young squad that fielded seven freshman and seven sophomores and they went winless in Tri-County Athletic League play and finished the year with a 4-13-3 record.
With the season set to kick off today against Anzar at 3:30pm, San Benito is feeling optimistic about the season.
“The girls were better than their record,” coach Mike Schurig said of last year’s squad. “We had six one-goal losses. We had a lot of games that were almost (wins). The girls learned a lot, they don’t want to repeat that.”
The team has 12 returning players, including six seniors. Forward Brittany Huth and defender Ashley Perreira are both fourth-year varsity players and are two of the team’s five captains, along with Carly Brigantino, JC Clayton and Rachel Maheu.
“I’m so excited. I’m ready to go,” Huth said of the upcoming season. “I think we’re going to have a really good season this year.”
Perreira has moved from the goal keeper position to a defender position, Schurig said, because she’s too strong of a defender to not be out there and because sophomore Emily Key is a solid goal keeper as well.
After losing record-setting goal scorer Rose Vandenberg to graduation two years ago, the ‘Balers became a defensive-minded team last year, but had some struggles on offense.
This year, there’s been an extra focus put on the offensive end and the team hopes it leads to more goals to avoid those narrow defeats.
“This year we’re focusing on shots on goal and crossing and passing a lot more than we did last year,” Huth said.
Along with the experience is a solid influx of young talent that has the ‘Balers excited.
The team has two freshman, Sophie Coelho and Samantha Moreno, on the squad that expect to see solid minutes.
“One or both of them will start,” Schurig said. “They both have a good history of playing club ball.”
Sophomore Christiana Perez is another one of the younger San Benito players that Schurig has high hopes for.
“Perez is probably one of the best underclassmen,” Schurig said.
Overall, the team is just anxious to get on the field in a meaningful game against an opponent and gain that experience.
“We haven’t played against another team with this group of girls,” Huth said. “So we’re going to need a lot of communication and passing, you can’t do it all yourself.”
