San Benito atones for only loss, maintains first place
Hollister – In its initial action since taking over first place in the Tri-County Athletic League girls soccer race, San Benito avenged its only league loss of the season Thursday with a 2-1 win over Notre Dame at Cal State Monterey Bay.
Despite playing without the services of leading scorer Sophie Coelho for most of the contest, the Haybalers (10-3-2, 5-1-1 TCAL) managed a pair of goals against one of the league’s top defenses to maintain its spot at the top of the standings.
“We knew Notre Dame was going to be a tough game,” coach Mike Schurig said. “They have one of the stingiest defenses out there.”
Coelho, who has 14 goals so far during her freshman season, played only 10 minutes because she was battling an illness and senior Brittany Huth also was limited due to an illness.
But after sitting out the game’s first 20 minutes, Huth played the remainder of the first half and it paid off as she scored 30 seconds before halftime by sending a perfect free kick into the corner of the net.
The Spirits (8-5-3, 2-4-1 ) answer that goal when they scored in the 56th minute to tie the game.
But San Benito didn’t let down. Ten minutes later, the ‘Balers drove the ball down the right side and Janessa Gillies fired a cross pass to Yaira Lizarraga. Her shot bounced off the post and JC Clayton got a foot on the rebound to direct it into the net for the game-winner – her second game-winner in as many games this week.
The win had added satisfaction for San Benito because of its 1-0 loss to Notre Dame earlier this season when the Spirits scored a controversial late goal.
“We had a lot of motivation,” Schurig said. “But so did Notre Dame. They already beat us once and just beat (then-first place) North Salinas and saw themselves having a chance to go on.”
San Benito’s tough week of competition concludes Saturday when it travels to face rival Gilroy at 10am. In the team’s showdown in Hollister earlier this season, the Mustangs scored in the 78th minute to salvage a 2-2 tie.
