One year after being upset in the Tri-County Athletic League
semifinals
— a loss that eventually positioned the Balers short of the
Central Coast Section playoffs — San Benito marched through the
semifinal round on Thursday when it defeated Stevenson by an 11-4
margin, and will not only advance to Saturday’s league championship
as a result, but also next week’s CCS
playoffs.
MONTEREY
The San Benito girls water polo team didn’t let what happened in 2009 happen again in 2010.
One year after being upset in the Tri-County Athletic League semifinals — a loss that eventually positioned the Balers short of the Central Coast Section playoffs — San Benito marched through the semifinal round on Thursday when it defeated Stevenson by an 11-4 margin, and will not only advance to Saturday’s league championship as a result, but also next week’s CCS playoffs.
Only the top three teams in the TCAL advance to CCS, and San Benito is guranteed one of those spots after having qualified for the league championship on Thursday. Which spot exactly remains open, of course, but the No. 2 Balers will have a chance at the top spot on Saturday when they will square off against No. 1 Gilroy at Santa Catalina.
The TCAL title match is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
San Benito and Gilroy have split the season series, with the Balers delivering an 8-7 victory in late September, and the Mustangs returning the favor in league play with a 13-12 win on Oct. 20.
The Mustangs easily defeated Salinas during Thursday’s semifinals. The Cowboys will square off against Stevenson in the third- and fourth-place consolation match on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the CCS playoffs and the loser going home.
On Thursday, the Pirates were limited to a single score in each quarter, as San Benito keeper Marieke Liem compiled 15 saves in the win.
“She was amazing tonight,” San Benito head coach Hayley Vandercook said. “She was, by a landslide, the difference in the game.”
With Liem’s defense in net, the Balers took a 2-1 lead after one quarter and a 6-2 lead to halftime.
Caitlin Schafer and Hannah Smith each scored four goals apiece for San Benito, while Lindsay De La Torre, Sarina Schnekenburger and Hannah Blake each added one score.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
STEV 1 1 1 1 4
SANB 2 4 3 2 11
