A wet pitch provided for sloppy play in Tuesday’s girls soccer
match in Hollister, but the San Benito Lady ‘Balers managed to
outlast visiting North Monterey County 6-5, nonetheless.
HOLLISTER
A wet pitch provided for sloppy play in Tuesday’s girls soccer match in Hollister, but the San Benito Lady ‘Balers managed to outlast visiting North Monterey County 6-5, nonetheless.
The rainy conditions supplied the ammo for a muddy field that lead to a slew of scoring in the waning minutes of the second half, where the Haybalers (6-3) and the Condors (3-7) combined for five goals in 14 minutes of play.
The wet field made it difficult, however, to draw any conclusions from the match, as the slick conditions provided countless scoring opportunities for both teams, but also prevented many goal-scoring chances from ever occurring.
San Benito coach Mike Schurig, though, felt his Lady ‘Balers struggled to adjust to the slop, and although he was content to get the win, he was hoping for a stronger performance.
“We walk away with the win, but we weren’t satisfied,” Schurig said. “It’s like going to the prom with your cousin.”
Keeper Kelli Shingai, who started in net for the absent Emily Key, said the inclement weather provided another challenge in the game against the Condors.
“It was kind of difficult. I would go for it and it was a little faster than I anticipated,” she said. “It took me a little while to adjust. It was a difficult field, compared to a dry field.”
Schurig felt at least three of North County’s goals came as a result of San Benito’s short passes, which were difficult to control on the muddy surface and at times were intercepted by North County.
“We weren’t playing our ‘A’ game,” said Schurig, who felt longer passes were needed on the sloppy turf. “There were things that we could not do with our touch.”
The Lady ‘Balers seemingly controlled the game through the first half, that is until North County’s Maritza Hernandez was able to touch the ball. The senior Condor was the equalizer early on, scoring in the 6th and 24th minute to keep the Condors ahead.
In the 15th minute, San Benito’s JC Clayton drew the keeper out of the net and crossed a pass to Janessa Gillies, who deposited the ball in the open right side. Clayton then assisted on a corner kick in the 29th minute, this time to Samantha Moreno who tied the game at two goals apiece.
Sara Yamasaki used her powerful throw-in to put San Benito ahead for the first time in the 38th minute, as her sideline heave deflected off the keepers’ hands and found the right foot of Moreno for a 3-2 ‘Baler lead.
But just two minutes into the second half, North County tied the game when Hernandez assisted Elizabeth Kaufman on a goal, while Yamasaki pocketed the go-ahead goal into the net in the 64th minute off a Condor defender that made the game 4-3 ‘Balers.
But Kaufman tied it in the 66th minute to make it 4-4, while Clayton’s corner kick three minutes later found Hannah Cobb in front of the net as well as a 5-4 lead.
The final two goals of the game came off deflections. North County’s Miriam Alfaro took a shot that ricocheted off a San Benito defender and into the net at the 74th minute, while Sophie Coelho did the same, deflecting a shot off a North County defender and into the net just four minutes later.
Coelho’s goal, though, proved to be the game-winner.
“We got the win, but it was an ugly one, just like the field,” Schurig said.
The two teams were called for a combined three red cards and six yellow cards. San Benito’s two red cards, however, are expected to be appealed.
The Lady ‘Balers are off until their Alumni Game fund-raiser on Jan. 4 at 5 p.m. while their next game is on Jan. 9 when they host Alvarez at 3:30 p.m.
