San Benito, Gilroy square off Wednesday in big TCAL showdown
HOLLISTER
San Benito is certainly due.
It’s been four years since the last time the Lady ‘Balers soccer team triumphed over Gilroy on the pitch – a 1-0 victory on Jan. 6, 2005, in which San Benito’s Jennifer Vandenberg pocketed the game’s lone goal.
Since then, the Lady ‘Balers has lost six of seven, with their only non-loss a 2-2 tie in 2007. In that game, then-freshman Sophie Coelho deposited a pair of goals into the back of the net.
Yep. They’re most certainly due.
“We can’t get embarrassed like we did last year, 4-0 in each game,” said Coelho, now a junior. “I think we’re ready for them. We know who to mark. We know their strong points.
“They have good forwards, good center-mids. But we know we need to mark up and we’re just trying to get ready for that.”
Marking Gilroy’s Ariana Vera would be a good start. Last year’s co-offensive MVP in the Tri-County Athletic League, the senior Vera is second on the Mustangs this year with seven goals, while junior teammate Ariana Carrillo leads Gilroy with eight.
Vera’s third on the team in assists, too. Just last week against Salinas, she delivered a perfect cross from the right side to Savannah Silacci, who played the ball off her chest and into the net.
Gilroy won that game at The Pit, 2-0.
“We’re just gonna play our game and may the best team win, which is hopefully us,” San Benito head coach Ben Alvarez said.
Alvarez’ team has been brimming with confidence as of late. Following a disappointing 2-2 tie to North Salinas on Jan. 9, San Benito has rifled off 10 goals in their last two games alone, a short stretch that includes a 5-1 victory over Everett Alvarez and a huge 5-2 win over Salinas, which vaulted the Lady ‘Balers into second place in the TCAL.
“This was major,” said JC Clayton, who had an assist against Salinas. “It’s nice because now we know we have a really good chance at Gilroy. Coming into this it was kind of iffy … But it was definitely nice to get a win out of this.”
Last week’s slate of games really could not have come at a better time for San Benito, either. With Wednesday’s showdown at Gilroy already weighing heavily toward the TCAL title, the game itself will pit the league’s top defense in Gilroy (nine goals allowed) against the league’s top offense in San Benito (47 goals scored).
And with the Lady ‘Balers posting five goals against Salinas, a team in which has not allowed more than three scores in any one game this season, San Benito suddenly likes its chances.
And why not?
“We’re not overly confident, but we have a good feeling,” said Hannah Cobb, who leads the TCAL with 17 goals this season. “We really want to win this, so we’re working hard.”
Cobb says she doesn’t feel any more pressure as a player, though, despite her league-lead in goals scored.
“I don’t feel any more than anyone else,” Cobb said. “I don’t feel like people rely on me so much. I just feel like I’m in the right place at the right time when I score.
“And there are other girls on the team scoring more than me at the moment.”
Cobb had a pair of goals against Alvarez, while teammate Coelho has pocketed four in the last two games and Daniela Ocampo as deposited two as well.
Gilroy’s defense, led by 2008’s co-defensive MVP Irene Figueroa, should have their hands full, for the most part.
And with the game held at Gilroy’s Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, which boasts a turf field, San Benito should be right at home as the Lady ‘Balers have recently grown accustomed to the fake-field feel.
“From our last game, with how we’ve been playing and passing, I think we have a chance this year,” said Samantha Moreno, who recently returned to the lineup after suffering a sprained knee earlier this season. “We have to beat Gilroy.”
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San Benito will play Gilroy at the Garcia-Elder Sports Complex on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
