San Benito finds its socks, finds net four times in 4-1 win
Hollister – Just to think, the game was almost ruined by socks.
The San Benito girls soccer team dominated visiting Alisal 4-1 Friday at Andy Hardin Stadium in Hollister behind a hat trick and an assist from the speedy Sophie Coelho, and improved to 3-1-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League.
But before the contest even commenced, before San Benito could rack up four quick first-half scores, the Lady ‘Balers were dealt a difficult blow: they were in white socks.
No, it had nothing to do with fashion. But it had everything to do with rules.
In an effort to reduce confusion for the officials, soccer rules stipulate that opposing teams must wear the same colored uniform – socks included – with enough differential between the two teams.
Since Alisal arrived dressed in their white socks, it was up to the home team – in this case San Benito – to switch out of their home whites.
“I was worried,” said coach Mike Schurig, whose team was lacking in the red-sock department at the time. “All of a sudden, that took them off their game.
“It hasn’t been an issue (in the past). They had both (home and away) jerseys. They didn’t have both socks. I thought for sure we’d be coming out slow.”
After scrounging for red socks, even to the point where one parent purchased red socks at a local retailer, San Benito was dressed for success.
Just minutes into the game, Sara Yamasaki’s throw-in landed at the feet of JC Clayton on the right side of the box. The junior forward then turned and found Coelho just 10 yards in front of the net, and San Benito’s leading scorer deposited the ball into the left corner in the 3rd minute.
Less than 10 minutes later, Coelho’s blocked attempt from 30 yards out deflected to the left side where Samantha Moreno retrieved the ball and laced it into the right side of the net.
“The thing we needed to happen today was we needed to come out strong and finish, and we did that,” Schurig said. “The girls did what they needed to do.”
Hannah Cobb helped make the lead comfortable for San Benito when her crossing pass from approximately 40 yards out on the right side created a one-on-one situation for Coelho and a Trojan defender.
Coelho, though, who out-sprinted Alisal’s defense seemingly all game, did the same here when she scored her second goal of the contest in the 21st minute to make it 3-0.
Even when she couldn’t outrun the defense, though, Coelho managed to find the back of the net, nonetheless. In the 37th minute, the San Benito forward completed the three-goal hat trick when she scored from the left side on a sliding kick with a Trojan defender on her back.
With a four-goal cushion, San Benito’s defense, led by Rachel Maheu who Schurig said played “fantastic,” kept Alisal at bay. Although Trojan Norayma Mata put Alisal on the scoreboard in the 49th minute, the visiting team was held to just the single goal on the afternoon.
The Trojans even out-shot San Benito 20-17, with 13 shots on net in the first half. But ‘Baler goalie Emily Key made 11 saves on the day, including a point-blank block from a Trojan forward in the 60th minute.
Schurig said he was disappointed with the goal allowed, as well as the fact that San Benito didn’t score more goals.
“They need to know where the field is,” Schurig said of Alisal’s lone goal, “so they don’t leave anyone unattended.”
San Benito (8-3-1) will return to the pitch Wednesday when they travel to play Salinas. Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m.
