The sports program at Hollister with the biggest improvement since last year is probably Brett Davis’s lacrosse unit. After two years of major struggles, these Balers are really rolling.
Hollister is 8-6 overall, 4-5 in league play and right in the middle of the standings. This comes directly after some dire years. In the previous two seasons, the Balers were 1-28 overall, 1-17 in league and were outscored 385 to 116.
It is very different now. The overall record is above .500 and they are winning nearly half of their league matches. Last year, the Balers averaged 3.9 goals per game and yielded 11.8. This season, Hollister is scoring to the tune of 9.4 per game and giving up 7.5.
“I’m proud of my guys,” Davis said, after a recent game. “We improve every week and we always play hard.”
“Improve every week” is perhaps an understatement. In non-league contests this year, Hollister beat Sobrato 16-4 and 16-5 and ripped Harbor 15-3 and 17-6.
Soquel leads the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Mission Division, with Monte Vista Christian, Salinas and the Balers in a tight three-team pack behind the Knights. Santa Cruz and Monterey are far behind, bringing up the rear.
Hollister is not only competitive record-wise, but the losses are no longer one-sided. In specific, the Balers fought unbeaten league leader Soquel fiercely in both contests this year, losing just 11-7 and 6-3, among the toughest games the Knights have faced.
Freshman Troy Cooper leads Hollister in scoring with 40 goals and 14 assists. Bradley Cooper has 14 goals and Brigham Richards and freshman Eli Morales each have 13.
Isiah Toscano, Vitto Forneris, Jacob Torres, Thorin Rehak, Bradley Cooper, Kasen Duran, Cole Woodland and Ray Mattos-Velez are key in the middle. Sophomore Chase Chipley is a stalwart in goal and the improved Baler defense, featuring Nathan Cortes, Jameson Oswald, Nicco Forneris, Justin Mondragon and Jason Hutchings, is a key reason for the team’s success.
“We’ve got a seasoned group of guys who have played together for a while,” Davis said. “We have skills and we also have team camaraderie. It’s still a young squad, with only three seniors. They have grown to love the game and are earning what they have been working toward.”
In league play, Hollister smashed Monterey 11-4 and 13-4. The Balers beat Santa Cruz in a forfeit and then won 9-4. Salinas took the measure of Hollister 12-2, and the Balers are looking for revenge in the May 8 rematch. Monte Vista Christian defeated Hollister 13-3 on March 18 but the rematch on April 23 was much closer, just 11-7 in favor of the Mustangs.
The turnaround is clear when one notes Monterey beat HHS 17-4 and 15-0 last year. That is also true with Santa Cruz, who won 6-2 and 9-3 over the Balers last season.
It’s very different in 2026. The four matches against those two have produced four wins this year, by an average victory margin of five goals. In fact, the Balers have allowed just an average of 4.2 goals per game in their wins this entire year.
Individual highlights have been many. Troy Cooper scored eight against Harbor, five against Monterey, Sobrato and Soquel and tallied four in three other games. Bradley Cooper scored four against Harbor and Mattos-Velez contributed three against MVC, Richards scored three in both games against Harbor and Morales scored three against Harbor and added three assists against MVC.
“Every game starts with Isiah Toscano,” said Davis, after the second MVC game. “He is our star faceoff guy. Troy Cooper is just a freshman; he gives us poise and control on offense. He is the quarterback of our offense.
“Vitto (Forneris) is great. Ray (Mattos-Velez) was out for a while and now he’s back. He is a game-changer on offense. Jacob Torres makes big plays. Our goalie Chase (Chipley) is a young guy, just a sophomore. He makes great saves.”
The growth and improvement came in the off-season and also during the season. Davis cited that beyond practices, the players would get together in local parks to improve their skills.
The April 23 contest with MVC illustrated how the team improved during the season. The Mustangs beat Hollister decisively on March 18, but the rematch was much more competitive.
“Hollister was a completely different team from the last time we played them,” said MVC coach George Paul Scheppler, after the rematch. “They are so much improved. They are a terrific opponent. They played together as a group.”
Troy Cooper and Mattos-Velez scored early for the Balers. The talented, experienced Mustangs took control in the middle of the game and built a comfortable lead. However, the never-say-die Balers showed no quit and fought back hard, scoring five times in the final 12-minute stanza.
Toscano won the draw to start the fourth period and took it right in on the goal. He fired a low shot for a score. Chipley started another play with a long pass up field. Richards’ shot was saved, and Bradley Cooper scored on the rebound.
Later in the quarter, Mattos-Velez sped left to right and ripped in a waist-high rocket for a score. He scored again later, as did Troy Cooper.
“We had a bit of a slow start today but then we picked it up at the end,” Davis said. “Our offense began to really move the ball around.”
The Balers close the season with a May 6 non-league game against LCPA and a May 8 grudge match against Salinas. With the foundation from this season and a young roster, the future is bright for Baler lacrosse.
