San Benito Lady ‘Balers Shoot For First TCAL Win in Finale
Tonight
Hollister – When the San Benito girls soccer team takes the field tonight at Andy Hardin Stadium, it will have plenty of motivation.
The Haybalers’ contest against Notre Dame is their Homecoming game-the chance to say good-bye to their four seniors. It also marks the last opportunity San Benito has to secure what has been most elusive thus far-a Tri-County Athletic League victory.
“We’re looking to give it a good show,” said ‘Balers head coach Mike Schurig. “We’re going to give it our best.”
In playing three of its last four games at home, San Benito seemed to be well-positioned to get its first win in the calendar year, but after losses to Live Oak, Sobrato and Salinas, the Haybalers are down to just one more chance.
Salinas figured to be a tough challenge for the ‘Balers. The visiting Cowboys have the top defense in the TCAL-allowing just 13 goals in league play-and used it to prevail 1-0 over San Benito when the teams met for the first time on Jan. 17.
When the teams matched up again on Saturday, the story was similar and the outcome was identical. Unable to get their offense on track in the face of an airtight Salinas defense, the ‘Balers fell 1-0.
“It’s a tough defense to get past,” said Schurig. “We just couldn’t get many shots on ’em. It’s a very, very fast, very, very quick defense.”
Salinas got the only score it would need in the 20th minute on a great cross and a header past San Benito goalie Ashley Perreira.
Other than the Cowboys’ goal, San Benito did a fine job of denying Salinas. Perreira made six saves on the day and ‘Balers’ defense effectively kept Salinas at bay.
The Haybalers had more success in creating offense in the second half, but still had trouble converting those chances into shots.
“We had a couple of good opportunities, but we just couldn’t capitalize on them,” said Schurig. “[We] just needed to shoot more from the outside. Once we got into the 18 [yard box], they were on us.”
San Benito (4-12-3, 0-9-2 TCAL) managed just three shots in the game.
Not surprisingly, the Haybalers spent much of their practice yesterday working on their shooting and finishing. Against high-scoring Notre Dame, San Benito will need to generate more chances in its bid for the victory.
San Benito fell 1-0 to Notre Dame on Jan. 17, a game that Schurig felt the ‘Balers controlled.
“We actually out-played them,” said Schurig, who noted Notre Dame’s goal in the opening minutes as the exception. “We just couldn’t get a goal in.”
The Haybalers will try to reverse that latter trend tonight, and hope that a victory follows.
The San Benito-Notre Dame contest is set for a 5:30pm kickoff under the lights.
