Eight years ago, a fledgling Hollister High girls soccer team
met Leland in the first and only Central Coast Section appearance
by a Haybaler squad.
Eight years ago, a fledgling Hollister High girls soccer team met Leland in the first and only Central Coast Section appearance by a Haybaler squad.
The Chargers, who had undoubtedly the edge in club experience, blanked the Balers 4-0.
Whatever irony obtained from this Wednesday’s CCS Division I match between the same two schools will surely be determined when the final whistle blows 80 minutes after it starts.
Hollister (15-4-2), seeded 12th, travels to fifth-seeded Leland (11-5-4) for a 2:30 p.m. match. The winner advances to the quarterfinals on Saturday vs. No. 4 Homestead (9-3-6) at PAL Stadium at 10 a.m.
The Chargers play in the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Mt. Hamilton Division. Three other teams from that division are in the tournament – No. 1 Santa Teresa, No. 3 Leigh and No. 10 Piedmont Hills.
Baler head coach Michael Schurig is fully aware that his club is that he needs all pistons working if the Balers can even their CCS ledger at 1-1 and move on to face the Mustangs.
“We need a very strong defense,” said Schurig. “The defense definitely has to step up to play some top notch ‘D.’ The offense has to get some goals. Leland is an ‘A’ team. We know they’re a good team, not a slouch team. We played some top teams earlier in the season and scored at least a goal on them.”
Leland is the only team in the CCS to have beaten Santa Teresa – though, according to Schurig, the Saints had five starters missing that day because of illness and other things.
Even so, the Chargers have the highest respect of the Baler players.
“We lost to them two years ago in the Watsonville Tournament,” said Baler sweeper Brianna Griffith. “Some of those girls might be on this team. I just want to give them a good game. If we lose, I want them to know they’ve been in a tough game, that we’ve given them a run for their money.”
“We need to be mentally prepared,” said striker Jennifer Vandenberg. “There isn’t much more we can learn in two days of practice. We need to go out and play hard and do our best. If we give it our all, it doesn’t matter what the score is.”
Schurig said there are a couple of reasons why this team has accomplished what it has.
“We have more subs in the midfield,” he said. “I can keep my midfielders fresh. And Jennifer Vandenberg and Jenny Maheu have played so well off each other this season.”
The defense was dealt a blow when it had to play without junior stopper Amy Baxter for the bulk of the season. Baxter had knee surgery in late December and returned for 15 minutes of action in the Balers’ last Tri-County Athletic League match at Notre Dame last week. She is expected to play Wednesday, but for how long is another question.
“It depends on the coaches,” said Baxter. “It hurt for a couple of days after the Notre Dame game.”
“I’ll probably bring her midway through the first half, then bring her in midway through the second half,” said Schurig. “I hope she can play half the game.”
The Baler midfield was stung with the loss of sophomore Julie Broyer, who severely sprained an ankle against the Spirits. Broyer, a real jet on the pitch, has been walking around on crutches and is out for Wednesday.
Striker Jenny Maheu isn’t conceding anything to the Chargers.
“We have to focus and have faith in ourselves,” she said. “It’s going to be more intense because it’s CCS, but I’m going to do the same thing I’ve been doing all season. It’s been working so far.”
How to get there: Take 101 north to Highway 85 to Highway 87 to Almaden Avenue to Camden Ave. Go south on Camden one mile. Leland High School is on the right at 6677 Camden Ave.
