San Benito girls soccer compiles 40.5 points, misses 45-point
mark to qualify for the Central Coast Section Division I
playoffs
HOLLISTER
The San Benito High girls soccer team certainly ended their season on a winning note, but it wasn’t necessarily the way the team wanted to go out.
After defeating league rival Gilroy for the first time in more than four years on Friday, the Lady ‘Balers were left out of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs on Saturday for the first time since 2006.
“Our win against Gilroy gave us a huge boost in points,” San Benito head coach Ben Alvarez said regarding Friday’s 1-0 victory over the Mustangs. “But unfortunately, it was not enough.
“That was an outstanding win for us. To not get in, that’s tough.”
The seedings were announced on Saturday, and San Benito, which finished in third place in the Tri-County Athletic League and had a chance to qualify for the postseason as an at-large bid, fell just short.
The Lady ‘Balers compiled 40.5 points as an at-large bid, and needed 45 points in order to crack into the Division I bracket, Alvarez said.
Teams generate points based on wins, ties and losses over the final 18 games of the season, with more points awarded to matches played against league champions and “A” league opponents.
The TCAL, though, is a “B” league.
Gilroy (10-1-1 TCAL, 13-3-4) and Notre Dame (7-1-4 TCAL, 10-8-4) received the TCAL’s two automatic bids, with Gilroy earning the 4-seed in Division I as a result, and Notre Dame playing as the 12–seed in Division III.
And since the Spirits were not taking a spot in the D-I bracket, there was a fairly strong chance the Lady ‘Balers could find a way into the postseason as an at-large bid.
But the numbers just didn’t add up in the end.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Alvarez said. “My goal for next year, I am gonna try and schedule the champions of all the leagues and try to get more power points up front.
“I feel bad for the girls.”
Of the lower seeded teams in Division I, No. 12 Homestead (11-6-0) and No. 11 Watsonville (8-7-2) found a spot on the bracket.
No. 10 Mount Pleasant (15-3-1), No. 9 Carlmont (8-7-5), No. 8 Santa Teresa (7-7-6), No. 7 Mountain View (8-8-4), No. 6 Palo Alto (9-7-4), No. 5 Gunn (12-5-3), No. 3 Leland (12-4-6), No. 2 Woodside (14-2-4) and No. 1 Monta Vista (15-3-2) rounded out the Division I bracket.
San Benito, meanwhile, finishes its season at 7-2-3 in the TCAL, 15-3-4 overall.
